Chap. 255.—An ACT to prohibit the sale or giving away or otherwise dis-
pensing cocaine, alpha or beta euciane, or any mixture of either, except on
the prescription of a licensed physician, and prescribing a penalty therefor.

Approved March 13, 1908.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That no _per-
son shall sell, give away or otherwise dispense cocaine, alpha or beta
eucaine, or any mixture of either, except on -the prescription of a
licensed physician, and any person violating the provisions of this sec-
tion shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereot
shall be imprisoned, in the State penitentiary not less than one nor
more than five years: provided, that nothing herein contained shall be
construed to prohibit the sale of cocaine or of alpha or beta eucainc
by any licensed manufacturing pharmacists or chemists or wholesale o1
retail druggists to other licensed manufacturing pharmacists or chem.
ists, or wholesale or retail pharmacist or druggists, or to hospitals, col:
leges, scientific or public institutions, or to licensed physicians, dentists
or veterinary surgeons; nor to the use of. cocaine or alpha or bet:
eucaine by any licensed physician, dentist or veterinary surgeon in the
regular course of his practice.
2. If any person, except a licensed physician, dentist or veterinary
surgeon, manufacturing pharmacist or chemist, or wholesale or retail
pharmacist or druggist, have in his possession cocaine, or alpha or beta
eucaine, or any mixture of either, with intent to sell, give away or other-
wise dispense the same, he shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and pun-
ished by confinement in the State penitentiary not less than one nor
more than five years; and possession of cocaine or alpha or beta eucaine
or any mixture of either, except by a licensed physician, dentist, vet-
erinary surgeon, manufacturing chemist or pharmacist, or wholesale or
retail pharmacist or druggist, or on the prescription of a licensed phy-
sician, shall be prima facie evidence of an intent to sell, give away or
otherwise dispense the same: provided, that nothing herein contained
shall be construed to apply to any hospital, college or scientific or public
institution.

3. Every prescription for the use of cocaine or alpha or beta eucaine
must be signed by the licensed physician giving the same, and the name
and address of the patient must be plainly written upon the prescrip-
tion, which prescription may be filled only once, and any person violating
any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor,
and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than twenty nor
more than one hundred dollars.

+. An emergency existing by reason of frequent crimes resulting
from the use of the drugs herein mentioned, this act shall be in force
from its passage.