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<section article="gcr" article_name="Criminal Law" number="5-503" title_number="5" title_name="Controlled Dangerous Substances, Prescriptions, and Other Substances" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Prescriptions">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “opium” includes:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>codeine; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a natural or synthetic compound, manufactured substance, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of opium.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except on a valid prescription of an authorized prescriber as defined in § 12-101 of the Health Occupations Article, a person may not dispense, give, or sell a preparation containing opium or any of its derivatives.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>This subsection does not apply to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a sale made to an authorized provider; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a sale made by a manufacturer, distributor, or licensed pharmacy to a hospital or institution that operates a dispensary in which an authorized provider is in charge.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except on a prescription from an authorized prescriber as defined in § 12-101 of the Health Occupations Article, a person may not possess or control a preparation containing opium or its derivatives.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A person may possess or control a preparation containing opium or its derivatives if the possession or control is in the regular course of lawful business, occupation, profession, employment, or duty of the person.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>for a first violation, a fine not exceeding $1,000;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>for a second violation, a fine not exceeding $2,000; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>for each subsequent violation, imprisonment not exceeding 18 months.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
