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Mass. General Laws c.94C

Controlled substances act

This page links to an unofficial version of each section of G.L. c. 94C. Please note that sections that appear missing have been either reserved for future use or repealed.

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§ 1 Definitions 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 186, § 10, effective November 21, 2024

§ 2 Establishment of schedules of drugs or other controlled substances 
§ 2A Temporary placement of substance in schedule I 
§ 3 Findings required for placement in schedules 
§ 4 Exceptions from schedules 
§ 5 Dispensing controlled substances excepted under Sec. 4 
§ 6 Rules and regulations 
§ 7 Registration of persons who manufacture, distribute, dispense or possess controlled substances 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 186, § 11, effective November 21, 2024

§ 7A Registration as participant in prescription monitoring program 
§ 8 Research projects and studies 
§ 9 Administering and dispensing of controlled substances in course of professional practice; records, inspection 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 186, §§ 12-14, effective November 21, 2024

§ 10 Separate registration 
§ 11 Inspection of establishments of registrants or applicants 
§ 12 Issuance of registration to manufacture or distribute controlled substances 
§ 13 Suspension or revocation of registration; report of criminal violations; controlled substances affected placed under embargo; forfeiture; notice to bureau 
§ 14 Suspension of or refusal to renew registration pending proceedings in cases of imminent danger to public 
§ 15 Record-keeping and inventory requirements; filing of DEA Form 106 with city, town and state police departments upon discovery of theft or loss of controlled substance 
§ 16 Distribution between registrants; order form 
§ 17 Necessity of prescription for dispensing controlled substances 
§ 18 Issuance of prescription by practitioner or physician 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 285, § 3, effective March 23, 2025

§ 18A Prerequisites for issuing outpatient extended-release long-acting opioid in a non-abuse deterring form; written pain management treatment plan for long-term pain management 
§ 18B Voluntary non-opiate directive form 
§ 18C Patient education required before issuance of opioid prescription 
§ 18D Dispense of an opioid antagonist with prescription opioids 

Added by St. 2024, c. 140, § 109, effective July 1, 2024

§ 19 Prescription; restrictions on issuance 
§ 19A Emergency contraception 

Amended by St. 2022, c. 127, § 9, effective July 29, 2022

§ 19B Opioid antagonist 

Amended by St.2018, c. 208, § 32, effective August 9, 2018

§ 19B 1/2 Exchange of naloxone or other opioid antagonist between registered entities 
§ 19C High opiate overdose area pharmacies required to maintain continuous supply of naloxone rescue kits or opioid antagonist medications 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 285, § 4, effective March 23, 2025

§ 19D Supply limitations for opiate prescriptions; exception for palliative care 
§ 19D 1/2 Patient education and dispensing of opioid antagonists by substance use disorder treatment facilities 

Added by St. 2024, c. 285, § 5, effective July 1, 2025

§ 19E Dispense of COVID-19 control drugs 

Added by St.2022, c.268, § 110, effective November 10, 2022

§ 19F Pharmacist-prescribed hormonal contraceptives 

Added by St.2023, c.28, § 42, effective July 1, 2023.

§ 20 Oral prescriptions 
§ 20A Radiopharmaceutical drugs 
§ 21 Packaging and labeling by pharmacist filling prescription; distribution of educational pamphlet  

Amended by St. 2024, c. 285, § 6, effective March 23, 2025

§ 21A Prescriptions; prospective drug review and counseling by pharmacist 
§ 21B Advertisement and sale of prescription lock boxes by pharmacies 
§ 21C Pharmacy prescription drug charges at point of sale must not exceed retail price 

Added by St. 2024, c. 342, § 27, effective April 8, 2025

§ 22 Contents of prescription written by practitioner 
§ 23 Written prescriptions; requirements and restrictions 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 140, § 110, effective July 1, 2024

§ 24 Dispensing by practitioner for narcotic drug research or treatment of drug dependent persons 
§ 24A Electronic monitoring of the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances and certain additional drugs 
§ 24B Mean and median quantity and volume of prescriptions for opiates; notification of practitioner's own percentile ranking 
§ 25 Restrictions 
§ 26 Distribution in course of business in violation of Sec. 16 or furnishing false information in application, etc., prohibited 
§ 27 Sale of hypodermic syringes or hypodermic needles 
§ 27A Collection and disposal of spent non-commercially generated hypodermic needles and lancets 
§ 28 Jurisdiction of superior court 
§ 29 Educational programs for prevention of abuse of controlled substances 
§ 30 Administrative inspection of controlled premises 
§ 31 Classes of controlled substances; establishment of criminal penalties for violations of this chapter 

Amended by St.2018, c. 69, §§ 45-46, effective April 13, 2018

§ 32 Class A controlled substances; unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing or possession with intent to manufacture, etc.; eligibility for parole 
§ 32A Class B controlled substances; unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing or possession with intent to manufacture, etc.; eligibility for parole 
§ 32B Class C controlled substances; unlawful manufacturer, distribution, dispensing or possession with intent to manufacture, etc.; eligibility for parole 
§ 32C Class D controlled substances; unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, cultivation or possession with intent to manufacture, etc. 
§ 32D Class E controlled substances; unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, or possession with intent to manufacture, etc. 
§ 32E Trafficking in marihuana, cocaine, heroin, morphine, opium, etc.; eligibility for parole 
§ 32F Unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing or possession with intent to manufacture, etc. of controlled substances in Classes A to C to minors 
§ 32G Counterfeit substances; unlawful creation, distribution, dispensing or possession with intent to distribute or dispense 
§ 32H Prosecutions not to be continued or placed on file; suspension or reduction of sentence; eligibility for parole, etc. 
§ 32H 1/2 Good behavior deductions from sentence after serving mandatory minimum term of imprisonment; eligibility; parole; work release 
§ 32I Drug paraphernalia; sale, possession or manufacture with intent to sell; penalty; sale of tobacco rolling papers 
§ 32J Controlled substances violations in, on, or near school property; eligibility for parole 
§ 32K Inducing or abetting minor to distribute or sell controlled substances 
§ 32L Possession of 2 ounces or less of marihuana; civil penalty and forfeiture; other sanctions or disqualifications prohibited 
§ 32M Possession of 2 ounces or less of marihuana; drug awareness program 
§ 32N Possession of one ounce or less of marihuana; enforcement consistent with non-criminal disposition provisions of Sec. 21D of Chapter 40; duty of police department; notice; failure to file certificate of completion of drug awareness program 
§ 33 Unlawful use of registration numbers in manufacture or distribution, or fraudulently obtaining possession, of controlled substances; criminal penalties 
§ 34 Unlawful possession of particular controlled substances, including heroin and marihuana 
§ 34A Immunity from prosecution under Sec. 34 or finding of violation of condition of probation, pretrial release or parole for persons seeking medical assistance for self or other experiencing drug-related overdose 
§ 34A 1/2 Drug testing services provided by those in harm reduction services roles 

Added by St. 2024, c. 285, § 7, effective March 23, 2025

§ 36 Protective custody of children found present where controlled substances are unlawfully kept or possessed  
§ 37 Theft of controlled substances from persons authorized to dispense or possess 
§ 38 Violation of Secs. 24(a), 25, 26 or 27 
§ 39 Violation of Secs. 21 or 22 
§ 40 Conspiracy 
§ 41 Arrest without warrant 
§ 42 Cooperation with federal and other state agencies 
§ 43 Conformity with federal acts  
§ 44 Violations of Sec. 34; acquittal, dismissal or indictment nol prossed; sealing of records 
§ 45 Photographing and fingerprinting of persons charged with felony 
§ 47 Forfeiture of property 
§ 47A Seized controlled substances and narcotic drugs; custodian; mailing for chemical analysis; destruction or disposal upon completion of trial 
§ 48 Severability 
§ 49 Enforcement of Sec. 24A 

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