499.03 Possession of new drugs or legend drugs
without prescriptions unlawful; exemptions and exceptions. ---
(1) A person may not possess, or possess with intent to sell,
dispense, or deliver, any habit-forming, toxic, harmful, or new drug subject
to s. 499.003(22), or legend drug as defined in s. 499.003, unless the
possession of the drug has been obtained by a valid prescription of a
practitioner licensed by law to prescribe the drug. However, this section
does not apply to the delivery of such drugs to persons included in any of the
classes named in this subsection, or to the agents or employees of such
persons, for use in the usual course of their businesses or practices or in
the performance of their official duties, as the case may be; nor does this
section apply to the possession of such drugs by those persons or their agents
or employees for such use:
(a) A licensed pharmacist or any person under the licensed
pharmacist's supervision while acting within the scope of the licensed
pharmacist's practice;
(b) A licensed practitioner authorized by law to prescribe legend
drugs or any person under the licensed practitioner's supervision while acting
within the scope of the licensed practitioner's practice;
(c) A qualified person who uses legend drugs for lawful research,
teaching, or testing, and not for resale;
(d) A licensed hospital or other institution that procures such drugs
for lawful administration or dispensing by practitioners;
(e) An officer or employee of a federal, state, or local government;
or
(f) A person that holds a valid permit issued by the department
pursuant to ss. 499.001-499.081 which authorizes that person to possess
prescription drugs.
(2) The possession of a drug under subsection (1) by any person
not exempted under this section, which drug is not properly labeled to
indicate that possession is by a valid prescription of a practitioner licensed
by law to prescribe such drug, is prima facie evidence that such possession is
unlawful.
(3) Violation of subsection (1) is a misdemeanor of the second
degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, except that
possession with the intent to sell, dispense, or deliver is a third degree
felony, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s.
775.084.
History: s. 34, ch. 82-225; s. 1, ch. 83-265; s. 5, ch. 84-115; s. 75, ch.
87-243; ss. 30, 52, ch. 92-69.