(1) A person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if the person:
- (a) is not licensed to engage in regulated transactions and is not excepted from licensure; and
- (b) under circumstances not amounting to a violation of Subsection 58-37c-101(11)(k) or 76-18-506(2)(a), possesses more than 9 grams of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine, their salts, isomers, or salts of isomers, or a combination of any of these substances.
(2) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under Subsection (1) that the person in possession of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, or a combination of these substances:
(a)
- (i) is a physician, pharmacist, retail distributor, wholesaler, manufacturer, warehouseman, or common carrier, or an agent of any of these persons; and
- (ii) possesses the substances in the regular course of lawful business activities; or
- (b) possesses the substance pursuant to a valid prescription as defined in Section 58-37-101.
(3)
(a)
- (i) A defendant shall provide written notice of intent to claim an affirmative defense under this section as soon as practicable, but not later than 10 days prior to trial.
- (ii) The court may waive the notice requirement in the interest of justice for good cause shown, if the prosecutor is not unfairly prejudiced by the lack of timely notice.
- (b) The notice described in Subsection (3)(a)(i) shall include the specifics of the asserted defense.
(c)
- (i) The defendant shall establish the affirmative defense by a preponderance of the evidence.
- (ii) If the defense is established, it is a complete defense to the charges.
(4) This section does not apply to dietary supplements, herbs, or other natural products, including concentrates or extracts, which:
- (a) are not otherwise prohibited by law; and
(b) may contain naturally occurring ephedrine, ephedrine alkaloids, or pseudoephedrine, or their salts, isomers, or salts of isomers, or a combination of these substances, that:
- (i) are contained in a matrix of organic material; and
- (ii) do not exceed 15% of the total weight of the natural product.
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 362, 2026 General Session