Posted by Mitchell on September 18, 2001, at 20:03:51
In reply to Re: No prescription needed, posted by stjames on September 18, 2001, at 17:25:01
> > > Having meds without a script is a felony.
> >
> > James - Can you please provide some references for the above statement. - Jane
>
> Sorry, this is common sence ! Controled substances require a doc's script.
>
> jamesJuries can use common sense to weigh the merits of factual claims, but to return a criminal conviction, courts require a citation of law. Try US Code : Title 21, Section 844, with regard to possession, and US Code : Title 21, Section 829 with regard to dispensing of controlled substances. "Controlled substance" is defined at US Code : Title 21, Section 802. Schedules of controlled substances are at US Code: Title 13, Section 812. Revised schedules are published in the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1308 of Title 21, Food and Drugs.
If I understand correctly, under Sec. 844, first offense for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription is a misdemeanor, but other sections make possession of Schedule I substances a felony.
The conflict between FDA regulations for importation and U.S. Customs rules for importation can be confusing to an inexperienced investigator. Internet messages based solely on the FDA regulation, especially when posted on a board administered by a physician, can tend to create a perception that possession of controlled substances without a prescription is legal. Caveat Emptor.
Doesn't a person have to study this part of the law to graduate from medical school in the United States, and then prove their knowledge to a state medical board before they can practice? Are we missing something here, like a loophole that says this law doesn't apply sometimes? How do those "buy drugs legally without a prescription" sites remain on-line? Of course, the fact that they are still on line does not mean what they are doing is legal. If their distribution points are overseas, and if their Internet servers are overseas, maybe they are untouchable, but their customers are at risk. An expert might offer better insight, but the laws cited above seem clear enough.
It seems that the ease of mail order importation might have fostered a tide of questionable imports, which might currently be overwhelming the capabilities of regulators and prosecutors. The resulting lack of enforcement might support a perception that a person can legally possess controlled substances without the approval of controlling agencies. State attorneys general have at times prosecuted people involved in direct marketing of controlled substances through the Internet, but the lack of publicity of these cases leaves some consumers in the dark. Local law enforcement agencies also contribute to the breakdown of regulation, refusing at times to refer cases involving apparent prescription medications because of the difficulty in identifying the substance and the difficulty of proving there was no valid prescription.
Search U.S. Code at:
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/States also have laws about controlled substances.
These pages link to state statutes:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/state_statutes.html
http://www.law.cornell.edu/statutes.html
http://www.prairienet.org/~scruffy/f.htm
................................................................
US Code : Title 21, Section 844, Penalties for simple possession(a) Unlawful acts; penalties
It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess a controlled substance unless such substance was obtained directly, or pursuant to a valid prescription or order, from a practitioner, while acting in the course of his professional practice, or except as otherwise authorized by this subchapter or subchapter II of this chapter. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess any list I chemical obtained pursuant to or under authority of a registration issued to that person under section 823 of this title or section 958 of this title if that registration has been revoked or suspended, if that registration has expired, or if the registrant has ceased to do business in the manner contemplated by his registration. Any person who violates this subsection may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 1 year, and shall be fined a minimum of $1,000, or both, except that if he commits such offense after a prior conviction under this subchapter or subchapter II of this chapter, or a prior conviction for any drug, narcotic, or chemical offense chargeable under the law of any State, has become final, he shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for not less than 15 days but not more than 2 years, and shall be fined a minimum of $2,500, except, further, that if he commits such offense after two or more prior convictions under this subchapter or subchapter II of this chapter, or two or more prior convictions for any drug, narcotic, or chemical offense chargeable under the law of any State, or a combination of two or more such offenses have become final, he shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for not less than 90 days but not more than 3 years, and shall be fined a minimum of $5,000. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a person convicted under this subsection for the possession of a mixture or substance which contains cocaine base shall be imprisoned not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years, and fined a minimum of $1,000, if the conviction is a first conviction under this subsection and the amount of the mixture or substance exceeds 5 grams, if the conviction is after a prior conviction for the possession of such a mixture or substance under this subsection becomes final and the amount of the mixture or substance exceeds 3 grams, or if the conviction is after 2 or more prior convictions for the possession of such a mixture or substance under this subsection become final and the amount of the mixture or substance exceeds 1 gram. Notwithstanding any penalty provided in this subsection, any person convicted under this subsection for the possession of flunitrazepam shall be imprisoned for not more than 3 years, shall be fined as otherwise provided in this section, or both. The imposition or execution of a minimum sentence required to be imposed under this subsection shall not be suspended or deferred. Further, upon conviction, a person who violates this subsection shall be fined the reasonable costs of the investigation and prosecution of the offense, including the costs of prosecution of an offense as defined in sections 1918 and 1920 of title 28, except that this sentence shall not apply and a fine under this section need not be imposed if the court determines under the provision of title 18 that the defendant lacks the ability to pay.
(b) Repealed. Pub. L. 98-473, title II, Sec. 219(a), Oct. 12, 1984,
98 Stat. 2027
(c) ''Drug, narcotic, or chemical offense'' defined
As used in this section, the term ''drug, narcotic, or chemical offense'' means any offense which proscribes the possession, distribution, manufacture, cultivation, sale, transfer, or the attempt or conspiracy to possess, distribute, manufacture, cultivate, sell or transfer any substance the possession of which is prohibited under this subchapter...............................................
US Code : Title 21, Section 829, Prescriptions(a) Schedule II substances
Except when dispensed directly by a practitioner, other than a pharmacist, to an ultimate user, no controlled substance in schedule II, which is a prescription drug as determined under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), may be dispensed without the written prescription of a practitioner, except that in emergency situations, as prescribed by the Secretary by regulation after consultation with the Attorney General, such drug may be dispensed upon oral prescription in accordance with section 503(b) of that Act (21 U.S.C. 353(b)). Prescriptions shall be retained in conformity with the requirements of section 827 of this title. No prescription for a controlled substance in schedule II may be refilled.
(b) Schedule III and IV substances
Except when dispensed directly by a practitioner, other than a pharmacist, to an ultimate user, no controlled substance in schedule III or IV, which is a prescription drug as determined under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), may be dispensed without a written or oral prescription in conformity with section 503(b) of that Act (21 U.S.C. 353(b)). Such prescriptions may not be filled or refilled more than six months after the date thereof or be refilled more than five times after the date of the prescription unless renewed by the practitioner.
(c) Schedule V substances
No controlled substance in schedule V which is a drug may be distributed or dispensed other than for a medical purpose.
(d) Non-prescription drugs with abuse potential
Whenever it appears to the Attorney General that a drug not considered to be a prescription drug under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) should be so considered because of its abuse potential, he shall so advise the Secretary and furnish to him all available data relevant thereto................................
US Code : Title 21, Section 802
(6) The term ''controlled substance'' means a drug or other substance, or immediate precursor, included in schedule I, II, III, IV, or V of part B of this subchapter. The term does not include distilled spirits, wine, malt beverages, or tobacco, as those terms are defined or used in subtitle E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.............................................
Sec. 812. Schedules of controlled substances(a) Establishment
There are established five schedules of controlled substances, to be known as schedules I, II, III, IV, and V. Such schedules shall initially consist of the substances listed in this section. The schedules established by this section shall be updated and republished on a semiannual basis during the two-year period beginning one year after October 27, 1970, and shall be updated and republished on an annual basis thereafter.
(b) Placement on schedules; findings required
Except where control is required by United States obligations under an international treaty, convention, or protocol, in effect on October 27, 1970, and except in the case of an immediate precursor, a drug or other substance may not be placed in any schedule unless the findings required for such schedule are made with respect to such drug or other substance. The findings required for each of the schedules are as follows:
(1) Schedule I. -
(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted
medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or
other substance under medical supervision.
(2) Schedule II. -
(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted
medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently
accepted medical use with severe restrictions.
(C) Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe
psychological or physical dependence.
(3) Schedule III. -
(A) The drug or other substance has a potential for abuse less
than the drugs or other substances in schedules I and II.
(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted
medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate
or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
(4) Schedule IV. -
(A) The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse
relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III.
(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted
medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited
physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the
drugs or other substances in schedule III.
(5) Schedule V. -
(A) The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse
relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV.
(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted
medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited
physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the
drugs or other substances in schedule IV.
(c) Initial schedules of controlled substances
Schedules I, II, III, IV, and V shall, unless and until amended [1] pursuant to section 811 of this title, consist of the following drugs or other substances, by whatever official name, common or usual name, chemical name, or brand name designated:
(a) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any of the following opiates, including their isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers, whenever the existence of such isomers, esters, ethers, and salts is possible within the specific chemical designation:
(1) Acetylmethadol.
(2) Allylprodine.
(3) Alphacetylmathadol. [2]
[2] So in original. Probably should be ''Alphacetylmethadol.''
(4) Alphameprodine.
(5) Alphamethadol.
(6) Benzethidine.
(7) Betacetylmethadol.
(8) Betameprodine.
(9) Betamethadol.
(10) Betaprodine.
(11) Clonitazene.
(12) Dextromoramide.
(13) Dextrorphan.
(14) Diampromide.
(15) Diethylthiambutene.
(16) Dimenoxadol.
(17) Dimepheptanol.
(18) Dimethylthiambutene.
(19) Dioxaphetyl butyrate.
(20) Dipipanone.
(21) Ethylmethylthiambutene.
(22) Etonitazene.
(23) Etoxeridine.
(24) Furethidine.
(25) Hydroxypethidine.
(26) Ketobemidone.
(27) Levomoramide.
(28) Levophenacylmorphan.
(29) Morpheridine.
(30) Noracymethadol.
(31) Norlevorphanol.
(32) Normethadone.
(33) Norpipanone.
(34) Phenadoxone.
(35) Phenampromide.
(36) Phenomorphan.
(37) Phenoperidine.
(38) Piritramide.
(39) Propheptazine.
(40) Properidine.
(41) Racemoramide.
(42) Trimeperidine.
(b) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any of the following opium derivatives, their salts, isomers, and salt of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation:
(1) Acetorphine.
(2) Acetyldihydrocodeine.
(3) Benzylmorphine.
(4) Codeine methylbromide.
(5) Codeine-N-Oxide.
(6) Cyprenorphine.
(7) Desomorphine.
(8) Dihydromorphine.
(9) Etorphine.
(10) Heroin.
(11) Hydromorphinol.
(12) Methyldesorphine.
(13) Methylhydromorphine.
(14) Morphine methylbromide.
(15) Morphine methylsulfonate.
(16) Morphine-N-Oxide.
(17) Myrophine.
(18) Nicocodeine.
(19) Nicomorphine.
(20) Normorphine.
(21) Pholcodine.
(22) Thebacon.
(c) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation, which contains any quantity of the following hallucinogenic substances, or which contains any of their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation:
(1) 3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine.
(2) 5-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine.
(3) 3,4,5-trimethoxy amphetamine.
(4) Bufotenine.
(5) Diethyltryptamine.
(6) Dimethyltryptamine.
(7) 4-methyl-2,5-diamethoxyamphetamine.
(8) Ibogaine.
(9) Lysergic acid diethylamide.
(10) Marihuana.
(11) Mescaline.
(12) Peyote.
(13) N-ethyl-3-piperidyl benzilate.
(14) N-methyl-3-piperidyl benzilate.
(15) Psilocybin.
(16) Psilocyn.
(17) Tetrahydrocannabinols.
SCHEDULE II
(a) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any of the following substances whether produced directly or indirectly by extraction from substances of vegetable origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis:
(1) Opium and opiate, and any salt, compound, derivative, or
preparation of opium or opiate.
(2) Any salt, compound, derivative, or preparation thereof
which is chemically equivalent or identical with any of the
substances referred to in clause (1), except that these
substances shall not include the isoquinoline alkaloids of opium.
(3) Opium poppy and poppy straw.
(4) coca [3] leaves, except coca leaves and extracts
of coca leaves from which cocaine, ecgonine, and derivatives of
ecgonine or their salts have been removed; cocaine, its salts,
optical and geometric isomers, and salts of isomers; ecgonine,
its derivatives, their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers; or
any compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity
of any of the substances referred to in this paragraph.
[3] So in original. Probably should be capitalized.
(b) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any of the following opiates, including their isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters and ethers, whenever the existence of such isomers, esters, ethers, and salts is possible within the specific chemical designation:
(1) Alphaprodine.
(2) Anileridine.
(3) Bezitramide.
(4) Dihydrocodeine.
(5) Diphenoxylate.
(6) Fentanyl.
(7) Isomethadone.
(8) Levomethorphan.
(9) Levorphanol.
(10) Metazocine.
(11) Methadone.
(12) Methadone-Intermediate,
4-cyano-2-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenyl butane.
(13) Moramide-Intermediate, 2-methyl-3-morpholino-1,
1-diphenylpropane-carboxylic acid.
(14) Pethidine.
(15) Pethidine-Intermediate-A,
4-cyano-1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine.
(16) Pethidine-Intermediate-B,
ethyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate.
(17) Pethidine-Intermediate-C,
1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid.
(18) Phenazocine.
(19) Piminodine.
(20) Racemethorphan.
(21) Racemorphan.
(c) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any injectable liquid which contains any quantity of methamphetamine, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers.
SCHEDULE III
(a) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances having a stimulant effect on the central nervous system:
(1) Amphetamine, its salts, optical isomers, and salts of its
optical isomers.
(2) Phenmetrazine and its salts.
(3) Any substance (except an injectable liquid) which contains
any quantity of methamphetamine, including its salts, isomers,
and salts of isomers.
(4) Methylphenidate.
(b) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances having a depressant effect on the central nervous system:
(1) Any substance which contains any quantity of a derivative
of barbituric acid, or any salt of a derivative of barbituric
acid.
(2) Chorhexadol.
(3) Glutehimide.
(4) Lysergic acid.
(5) Lysergic acid amide.
(6) Methyprylon.
(7) Phencyclidine.
(8) Sulfondiethylmethane.
(9) Sulfonethylmethane.
(10) Sulfonmethane.
(c) Nalorphine.
(d) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation containing limited quantities of any of the following narcotic drugs, or any salts thereof:
(1) Not more than 1.8 grams of codeine per 100 milliliters or
not more than 90 milligrams per dosage unit, with an equal or
greater quantity of an isoquinoline alkaloid of opium.
(2) Not more than 1.8 grams of codeine per 100 milliliters or
not more than 90 milligrams per dosage unit, with one or more
active, non-narcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic
amounts.
(3) Not more than 300 milligrams of dihydrocodeinone per 100
milliliters or not more than 15 milligrams per dosage unit, with
a fourfold or greater quantity of an isoquinoline alkaloid of
opium.
(4) Not more than 300 milligrams of dihydrocodeinone per 100
milliliters or not more than 15 milligrams per dosage unit, with
one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized
therapeutic amounts.
(5) Not more than 1.8 grams of dihydrocodeine per 100
milliliters or not more than 90 milligrams per dosage unit, with
one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized
therapeutic amounts.
(6) Not more than 300 milligrams of ethylmorphine per 100
milliliters or not more than 15 milligrams per dosage unit, with
one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized
therapeutic amounts.
(7) Not more than 500 milligrams of opium per 100 milliliters
or per 100 grams, or not more than 25 milligrams per dosage unit,
with one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized
therapeutic amounts.
(8) Not more than 50 milligrams of morphine per 100 milliliters
or per 100 grams with one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients
in recognized therapeutic amounts.
(e) Anabolic steroids.
SCHEDULE IV
(1) Barbital.
(2) Chloral betaine.
(3) Chloral hydrate.
(4) Ethchlorvynol.
(5) Ethinamate.
(6) Methohexital.
(7) Meprobamate.
(8) Methylphenobarbital.
(9) Paraldehyde.
(10) Petrichloral.
(11) Phenobarbital.
SCHEDULE V
Any compound, mixture, or preparation containing any of the following limited quantities of narcotic drugs, which shall include one or more nonnarcotic active medicinal ingredients in sufficient proportion to confer upon the compound, mixture, or preparation valuable medicinal qualities other than those possessed by the narcotic drug alone:
(1) Not more than 200 milligrams of codeine per 100 milliliters
or per 100 grams.
(2) Not more than 100 milligrams of dihydrocodeine per 100
milliliters or per 100 grams.
(3) Not more than 100 milligrams of ethylmorphine per 100
milliliters or per 100 grams.
(4) Not more than 2.5 milligrams of diphenoxylate and not less
than 25 micrograms of atropine sulfate per dosage unit.
(5) Not more than 100 milligrams of opium per 100 milliliters
or per 100 grams.Revised schedules are published in the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1308 of Title 21, Food and Drugs.
_________________________________________________Excerpts of U.S. Code are republished here as allowed by U.S. law, but may not be copyrighted or republished for profit.
poster:Mitchell
thread:2069
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20010718/msgs/2084.html