<section number="76-18-208"><effdate>5/6/2026</effdate><histories><history>Enacted by Chapter <modchap sess="2026GS">362</modchap>, 2026 General Session</history><modyear>2026</modyear></histories><catchline>Unlawfully producing, manufacturing, or dispensing a controlled substance or counterfeit substance.</catchline><subsection number="76-18-208(1)">Terms defined in Sections <xref depth="3" refnumber="58-37-101">58-37-101</xref>, <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-1-101.5">76-1-101.5</xref>, <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-18-101">76-18-101</xref>, and <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-18-201">76-18-201</xref> apply to this section.</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(2)">Except as authorized by this part or Title 58, Chapter 37, Controlled Substances, and under circumstances not amounting to an offense described in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-18-220">76-18-220</xref>, trafficking of fentanyl or a fentanyl-related substance, an actor commits unlawfully producing, manufacturing, or dispensing a controlled substance or counterfeit substance if the actor knowingly and intentionally:<subsection number="76-18-208(2)(a)">produces, manufactures, or dispenses a controlled substance or a counterfeit substance; or</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(2)(b)">possesses, with the intent to produce, manufacture, or dispense, a controlled substance or a counterfeit substance.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(3)"><subsection number="76-18-208(3)(a)">Except as provided in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-18-208(3)(b)">(3)(b)</xref> and subject to Subsections <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-18-208(4)">(4)</xref> and <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-18-208(5)">(5)</xref>, a violation of Subsection <xref tempid="929">(2)</xref> is:<subsection number="76-18-208(3)(a)(i)">a second degree felony if the controlled substance or counterfeit substance is:<subsection number="76-18-208(3)(a)(i)(A)">a substance or a counterfeit of a substance classified in Schedule I or II, not including marijuana;</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(3)(a)(i)(B)">a controlled substance analog; or</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(3)(a)(i)(C)">gammahydroxybutyric acid as listed in Schedule III;</subsection></subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(3)(a)(ii)">a third degree felony if the controlled substance or counterfeit substance is:<subsection number="76-18-208(3)(a)(ii)(A)">a substance or a counterfeit of a substance classified in Schedule III or IV;</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(3)(a)(ii)(B)">marijuana; or</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(3)(a)(ii)(C)">a substance listed in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="58-37-109">58-37-109</xref>; or</subsection></subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(3)(a)(iii)">a class A misdemeanor if the controlled substance or counterfeit substance is a substance or counterfeit substance of a substance classified in Schedule V.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(3)(b)">Subject to Subsections <xref tempid="1041">(4)</xref> and <xref tempid="594">(5)</xref>, a second or subsequent conviction under:<subsection number="76-18-208(3)(b)(i)">Subsection <xref tempid="543">(3)(a)(i)</xref> is a first degree felony;</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(3)(b)(ii)">Subsection <xref tempid="431">(3)(a)(ii)</xref> is a second degree felony; or</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(3)(b)(iii)">Subsection <xref tempid="124">(3)(a)(iii)</xref> is a third degree felony.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(4)"><subsection number="76-18-208(4)(a)">A court shall impose a mandatory jail sentence of 360 days in jail, and may not suspend any portion of the jail sentence or grant early release, if:<subsection number="76-18-208(4)(a)(i)">the court suspends the imposition of a prison sentence for a felony conviction under this section or sentences an actor for a misdemeanor violation of an offense under this section;</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(4)(a)(ii)"><subsection number="76-18-208(4)(a)(ii)(A)">the violation is the actor's second or subsequent conviction for any level of offense under this section, Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-18-209">76-18-209</xref>, <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-18-210">76-18-210</xref>, or <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-18-211">76-18-211</xref>; or</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(4)(a)(ii)(B)">the actor previously has been convicted of a criminal violation in another jurisdiction, including a state or federal court, that is substantially equivalent to the violation of an offense under this section, Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-18-209">76-18-209</xref>, <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-18-210">76-18-210</xref>, or <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-18-211">76-18-211</xref>; and</subsection></subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(4)(a)(iii)">the actor previously has been convicted of reentry of a removed alien under 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1326.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(4)(b)"><subsection number="76-18-208(4)(b)(i)">Except as provided in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-18-208(4)(b)(ii)">(4)(b)(ii)</xref>, an actor who is subject to a mandatory jail sentence under Subsection <xref tempid="172">(4)(a)</xref> may not be released to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security for deportation until the actor has served the entire jail sentence described in Subsection <xref tempid="822">(4)(a)</xref>.</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(4)(b)(ii)">An actor may be released to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security for deportation at any time during the 14-day period before the final day of the actor's jail sentence described in Subsection <xref tempid="983">(4)(a)</xref>.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(5)">Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a violation of this section is subject to the penalties and classifications under Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-18-204">76-18-204</xref>, Enhanced penalties and sentencing for certain drug offenses, if the trier of fact finds the elements described under Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-18-204">76-18-204</xref>.</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(6)"><subsection number="76-18-208(6)(a)">For purposes of a penalty enhancement, a plea of guilty or no contest to a violation or attempted violation of this section or a plea that is held in abeyance under Title 77, Chapter 2a, Pleas in Abeyance, is the equivalent of a conviction, even if the charge has been subsequently reduced or dismissed in accordance with the plea in abeyance agreement.</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(6)(b)">A previous conviction used for a penalty enhancement under this section includes a conviction for an offense described in a statute previously in effect in this state that is the same or substantially similar to a violation of this section.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(7)"><subsection number="76-18-208(7)(a)">An actor may be charged and sentenced for a violation of this section, notwithstanding a charge and sentence for a violation of any other section of this part or Title 58, Chapter 37, Controlled Substances.</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(7)(b)">A penalty imposed for a violation of this section is in addition to, and not in lieu of, a civil or administrative penalty or sanction authorized by law.</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(7)(c)">Defenses and exemptions in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-18-203">76-18-203</xref> apply to this section.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(8)">The Administrative Office of the Courts shall report to the Division of Professional Licensing the name, case number, date of conviction, and if known, the date of birth of each actor convicted of violating this section.</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(9)">If a minor who is under 18 years old is found by a court to have violated this section, the court may order the minor to complete:<subsection number="76-18-208(9)(a)">a screening as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="41-6a-501">41-6a-501</xref>;</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(9)(b)">an assessment as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="41-6a-501">41-6a-501</xref> if the screening described in Subsection <xref tempid="172">(9)(a)</xref> indicates that an assessment is appropriate; and</subsection><subsection number="76-18-208(9)(c)">an educational series as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="41-6a-501">41-6a-501</xref> or substance use disorder treatment as indicated by an assessment described in Subsection <xref tempid="812">(9)(b)</xref>.</subsection></subsection></section>