(a) In general

Notwithstanding section 802(10) of this title, a pharmacy may deliver a controlled substance to a practitioner in accordance with a prescription that meets the requirements of this subchapter and the regulations issued by the Attorney General under this subchapter, for the purpose of administering the controlled substance by the practitioner if—

(1) the controlled substance is delivered by the pharmacy to the prescribing practitioner or the practitioner administering the controlled substance, as applicable, at the location listed on the practitioner’s certificate of registration issued under this subchapter;

(2) the controlled substance is a narcotic drug in schedule III, IV, or V to be administered for the purpose of maintenance or detoxification treatment and is to be administered by injection or implantation;

(3) the pharmacy and the practitioner are authorized to conduct the activities specified in this section under the law of the State in which such activities take place;

(4) the prescription is not issued to supply any practitioner with a stock of controlled substances for the purpose of general dispensing to patients;

(5) except as provided in subsection (b), the controlled substance is to be administered only to the patient named on the prescription not later than 45 days after the date of receipt of the controlled substance by the practitioner; and

(6) notwithstanding any exceptions under section 827 of this title, the prescribing practitioner, and the practitioner administering the controlled substance, as applicable, maintain complete and accurate records of all controlled substances delivered, received, administered, or otherwise disposed of under this section, including the persons to whom controlled substances were delivered and such other information as may be required by regulations of the Attorney General.

(b) Modification of number of days before which controlled substance shall be administered

(1) Initial 2-year period

During the 2-year period beginning on October 24, 2018, the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary, may reduce the number of days described in subsection (a)(5) if the Attorney General determines that such reduction will—

(A) reduce the risk of diversion; or

(B) protect the public health.

(2) Modifications after submission of report

After the date on which the report described in section 3204(b) of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act is submitted, the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary, may modify the number of days described in subsection (a)(5).

(3) Minimum number of days

Any modification under this subsection shall be for a period of not less than 7 days.

Have a question?
Click here to chat with a criminal defense lawyer and protect your rights.

Terms Used In 21 USC 829a

  • 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. See 21 USC 802
  • detoxification treatment: means the dispensing, for a period not in excess of one hundred and eighty days, of a narcotic drug in decreasing doses to an individual in order to alleviate adverse physiological or psychological effects incident to withdrawal from the continuous or sustained use of a narcotic drug and as a method of bringing the individual to a narcotic drug-free state within such period. See 21 USC 802
  • drug: has the meaning given that term by section 321(g)(1) of this title. See 21 USC 802
  • practitioner: means a physician, dentist, veterinarian, scientific investigator, pharmacy, hospital, or other person licensed, registered, or otherwise permitted, by the United States or the jurisdiction in which he practices or does research, to distribute, dispense, conduct research with respect to, administer, or use in teaching or chemical analysis, a controlled substance in the course of professional practice or research. See 21 USC 802
  • State: means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States. See 21 USC 802