1. A person found in possession of a drug or device limited to dispensation by prescription, unless the drug or device was so lawfully dispensed, commits a serious misdemeanor.

Attorney's Note

Under the Iowa Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Serious misdemeanorup to 1 yearbetween $430 and $2,560
For details, see Iowa Code§ 903.1

Terms Used In Iowa Code 155A.21

  • Board: means the board of pharmacy. See Iowa Code 155A.3
  • Device: means a medical device, as classified by the United States food and drug administration, intended for use by a patient that is required by the United States food and drug administration to be ordered or prescribed for a patient by a practitioner. See Iowa Code 155A.3
  • drug: means a drug, as classified by the United States food and drug administration, that is required by the United States food and drug administration to be prescribed or administered to a patient by a practitioner prior to dispensation. See Iowa Code 155A.3
  • Manufacturer: means manufacturer as defined by the federal Drug Supply Chain Security Act, 21 U. See Iowa Code 155A.3
  • Person: means a natural person. See Iowa Code 154A.1
  • Pharmacy: means a location where prescription drugs are compounded, dispensed, or sold by a pharmacist and where prescription drug orders are received or processed in accordance with the pharmacy laws. See Iowa Code 155A.3
  • Practitioner: means a physician, dentist, podiatric physician, prescribing psychologist, veterinarian, optometrist, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or other person licensed or registered to prescribe, distribute, or dispense a prescription drug or device in the course of professional practice in this state or a person licensed by another state in a health field in which, under Iowa law, licensees in this state may legally prescribe drugs. See Iowa Code 155A.3
 2. Subsection 1 does not apply to a licensed pharmacy, licensed wholesaler, physician, veterinarian, dentist, podiatric physician, optometrist, advanced registered nurse practitioner, physician assistant, a nurse acting under the direction of a physician, or the board of pharmacy, its officers, agents, inspectors, and representatives, or to a common carrier, manufacturer‘s representative, or messenger when transporting the drug or device in the same unbroken package in which the drug or device was delivered to that person for transportation.