GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

SESSION LAW 2015-32

HOUSE BILL 659

AN ACT to update the list of immediate precursor chemicals that it is unlawful for a person to possess with intent to manufacture or deliver and to clarify what constitutes certain drug offenses involving methamphetamine.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 90‑95 reads as rewritten:

"§ 90‑95.  Violations; penalties.

…

(d1)     (1)        Except as authorized by this Article, it is unlawful for any person to:

a.         Possess an immediate precursor chemical with intent to manufacture a controlled substance; or

b.         Possess or distribute an immediate precursor chemical knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that the immediate precursor chemical will be used to manufacture a controlled substance; or

c.         Possess a pseudoephedrine product if the person has a prior conviction for the possession of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine, sell or deliver methamphetamine, trafficking methamphetamine, possession of an immediate precursor chemical, or manufacture of methamphetamine. The prior conviction may be from any jurisdiction within the United States.

Except where the conduct is covered under subdivision (2) of this subsection, any person who violates this subdivision shall be punished as a Class H felon.

(2)        Except as authorized by this Article, it is unlawful for any person to:

a.         Possess an immediate precursor chemical with intent to manufacture methamphetamine; or

b.         Possess or distribute an immediate precursor chemical knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that the immediate precursor chemical will be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Any person who violates this subdivision shall be punished as a Class F felon.

(d2)      The immediate precursor chemicals to which subsection (d1) and (d1a) of this section applies are those immediate precursor chemicals designated by the Commission pursuant to its authority under G.S. 90‑88, and the following (until otherwise specified by the Commission):

(1)        Acetic anhydride.

(2)        Acetone.

(2a) Ammonium nitrate.

(2b) Ammonium sulfate.

(3)        Anhydrous ammonia.

(4)        Anthranilic acid.

(5)        Benzyl chloride.

(6)        Benzyl cyanide.

(7)        2‑Butanone (Methyl Ethyl Ketone).

(8)        Chloroephedrine.

(9)        Chloropseudoephedrine.

(10)      D‑lysergic acid.

(11)      Ephedrine.

(12)      Ergonovine maleate.

(13)      Ergotamine tartrate.

(13a) Ether based starting fluids.

(14)      Ethyl ether.

(15)      Ethyl Malonate.

(16)      Ethylamine.

(17)      Gamma‑butyrolactone.

(18)      Hydrochloric Acid. (Muriatic Acid).

(19)      Iodine.

(20)      Isosafrole.

(21)      Lithium.Sources of lithium metal.

(22)      Malonic acid.

(23)      Methylamine.

(24)      Methyl Isobutyl Ketone.

(25)      N‑acetylanthranilic acid.

(26)      N‑ethylephedrine.

(27)      N‑ethylepseudoephedrine.

(28)      N‑methylephedrine.

(29)      N‑methylpseudoephedrine.

(30)      Norpseudoephedrine.

(30a) Petroleum based organic solvents such as camping fuels and lighter fluids.

(31)      Phenyl‑2‑propane.

(32)      Phenylacetic acid.

(33)      Phenylpropanolamine.

(34)      Piperidine.

(35)      Piperonal.

(36)      Propionic anhydride.

(37)      Pseudoephedrine.

(38)      Pyrrolidine.

(39)      Red phosphorous.

(40)      Safrole.

(40a) Sodium hydroxide (Lye).

(41)      Sodium.Sources of sodium metal.

(42)      Sulfuric Acid.

(43)      Tetrachloroethylene.

(44)      Thionylchloride.

(45)      Toluene.

…."

SECTION 2.  The Joint Legislative Commission on Justice and Public Safety may study the current State and federal law regarding the authority for State agencies to schedule controlled substances without legislative action and the procedure for that scheduling or rescheduling.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2015, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 19^th day of May, 2015.

                                                                    s/  Daniel J. Forest

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Tim Moore

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

                                                                    s/  Pat McCrory

                                                                         Governor

Approved 11:53 a.m. this 21^st day of May, 2015