- CR40-411. Possession of depressant, stimulant, or narcotic drug, 18 V.S.A. § 4234(a)(1) (05/05/06)
- CR40-421. Possession of depressant, stimulant, or narcotic drug (100x dose), 18 V.S.A. § 4234(a)(2) (05/05/06)
- CR40-431. Possession of depressant, stimulant, or narcotic drug (1,000x dose), 18 V.S.A. § 4234(a)(3) (05/05/06)
- CR40-441. Possession of depressant, stimulant, or narcotic drug (10,000x dose), 18 V.S.A. § 4234(a)(4) (05/05/06)
- CR40-451. Selling or dispensing depressant, stimulant, or narcotic drug, 18 V.S.A. § 4234(b)(1) (04/01/25)
- CR40-461. Selling or dispensing depressant, stimulant, or narcotic drug (100x dose), 18 V.S.A. § 4234(b)(2) (04/01/25)
- CR40-471. Selling or dispensing depressant, stimulant, or narcotic drug (1,000x dose), 18 V.S.A. § 4234(b)(3) (04/01/25)
- CR40-601. Obtaining a regulated drug by deceit, 18 V.S.A. § 4223(a)(1) (10/19/13)
- CR40-701. Manufacturing, selling, or dispensing (etc.) non-controlled drug or substance on representation that drug or substance is controlled, 18 V.S.A. § 4228(a)(1) (05/05/06)
Reporter’s Notes
Mental Element. Note that, in 2024, the legislature created a new definition of “knowingly” that applies exclusively to 18 V.S.A. §§ 4233a (selling or dispensing fentanyl), 4233b (selling or dispensing xylazine), and 4234(b) (selling or dispensing depressant, stimulant, or narcotic drugs other than fentanyl, heroin, or cocaine). See 2024, No. 125 (S.58). This definition does not apply to other sections of Title 18. The model instructions for § 4234(b) that appear on this page incorporate this new definition of “knowingly.”
“Dispensing.” The word “dispense” is defined under 18 V.S.A. § 4201(7) to include “distribute, leave with, give away, dispose of, or deliver.” It is the committee’s understanding that “dispensing” a regulated drug necessarily involves a transfer to another individual. One who disposes of regulated drugs by flushing them down the toilet is not thereby guilty of dispensing. While it may be a crime to possess the drug, it is not a crime to dispossess oneself of the drug so long as the dispossession does not involve selling or dispensing. State v. Harris, 152 Vt. 507, 509 (1989).
Depressant, Stimulant, or Narcotic Drugs. The statute prohibits possession, selling, or dispensing a depressant, stimulant or narcotic drug, other than heroin or cocaine. There are lengthy statutory definitions for “depressant or stimulant drug” under 18 V.S.A. § 4201(6), and for “narcotic drug” under § 4201(16). The model instructions provide a choice of how to instruct on whether the charged substance fits into the statutory definitions. The State must prove to the jury that the defendant possessed the substance that is charged. In some cases the court will decide whether the charged substance is one that is regulated by the statutes. This determination is best done by stipulation. If there is a real question about the issue, the model instructions allow for reading the statutory definition to the jury, and letting the jury decide whether the charged substance falls within the statute.