2016 Ohio Revised Code
Title [29] XXIX CRIMES - PROCEDURE
Chapter 2925 - DRUG OFFENSES
Section 2925.37 - Counterfeit controlled substance offenses.

(A) No person shall knowingly possess any counterfeit controlled substance.

(B) No person shall knowingly make, sell, offer to sell, or deliver any substance that the person knows is a counterfeit controlled substance.

(C) No person shall make, possess, sell, offer to sell, or deliver any punch, die, plate, stone, or other device knowing or having reason to know that it will be used to print or reproduce a trademark, trade name, or other identifying mark upon a counterfeit controlled substance.

(D) No person shall sell, offer to sell, give, or deliver any counterfeit controlled substance to a juvenile.

(E) No person shall directly or indirectly represent a counterfeit controlled substance as a controlled substance by describing its effects as the physical or psychological effects associated with use of a controlled substance.

(F) No person shall directly or indirectly falsely represent or advertise a counterfeit controlled substance as a controlled substance. As used in this division, "advertise" means engaging in "advertisement," as defined in section 3715.01 of the Revised Code.

(G) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of possession of counterfeit controlled substances, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(H) Whoever violates division (B) or (C) of this section is guilty of trafficking in counterfeit controlled substances. Except as otherwise provided in this division, trafficking in counterfeit controlled substances is a felony of the fifth degree, and division (C) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code applies in determining whether to impose a prison term on the offender. If the offense was committed in the vicinity of a school or in the vicinity of a juvenile, trafficking in counterfeit controlled substances is a felony of the fourth degree, and division (C) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code applies in determining whether to impose a prison term on the offender.

(I) Whoever violates division (D) of this section is guilty of aggravated trafficking in counterfeit controlled substances. Except as otherwise provided in this division, aggravated trafficking in counterfeit controlled substances is a felony of the fourth degree, and division (C) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code applies in determining whether to impose a prison term on the offender.

(J) Whoever violates division (E) of this section is guilty of promoting and encouraging drug abuse. Except as otherwise provided in this division, promoting and encouraging drug abuse is a felony of the fifth degree, and division (C) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code applies in determining whether to impose a prison term on the offender. If the offense was committed in the vicinity of a school or in the vicinity of a juvenile, promoting and encouraging drug abuse is a felony of the fourth degree, and division (C) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code applies in determining whether to impose a prison term on the offender.

(K) Whoever violates division (F) of this section is guilty of fraudulent drug advertising. Except as otherwise provided in this division, fraudulent drug advertising is a felony of the fifth degree, and division (C) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code applies in determining whether to impose a prison term on the offender. If the offense was committed in the vicinity of a school or in the vicinity of a juvenile, fraudulent drug advertising is a felony of the fourth degree, and division (C) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code applies in determining whether to impose a prison term on the offender.

(L)

(1) In addition to any prison term authorized or required by divisions (H) to (K) of this section and sections 2929.13 and 2929.14 of the Revised Code and in addition to any other sanction imposed for the offense under this section or sections 2929.11 to 2929.18 of the Revised Code, the court that sentences an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F) of this section

may suspend for not more than five years the offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit. However, if the offender pleaded guilty to or was convicted of a violation of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or a substantially similar municipal ordinance or the law of another state or the United States arising out of the same set of circumstances as the violation, the court shall suspend the offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit for not more than five years.

If the offender is a professionally licensed person, in addition to any other sanction imposed for a violation of this section, the court immediately shall comply with section 2925.38 of the Revised Code.

(2) Any offender who received a mandatory suspension of the offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit under this section prior to the effective date of this amendment may file a motion with the sentencing court requesting the termination of the suspension. However, an offender who pleaded guilty to or was convicted of a violation of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or a substantially similar municipal ordinance or law of another state or the United States that arose out of the same set of circumstances as the violation for which the offender's license or permit was suspended under this section shall not file such a motion.

Upon the filing of a motion under division (L)(2) of this section, the sentencing court, in its discretion, may terminate the suspension.

(M) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3719.21 of the Revised Code, the clerk of the court shall pay a fine imposed for a violation of this section pursuant to division (A) of section 2929.18 of the Revised Code in accordance with and subject to the requirements of division (F) of section 2925.03 of the Revised Code. The agency that receives the fine shall use the fine as specified in division (F) of section 2925.03 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 204, §1, eff. 9/13/2016.

Effective Date: 01-01-2004