Alcohol
At what age are you allowed to purchase or possess alcohol?
Age 21.
It is illegal for any person under the age of 21 to purchase, possess, or attempt to purchase or possess any alcoholic beverage.
(Code of Virginia § 4.1-305)
At what age can you possess and use marijuana?
21 years of age
Virginia law restricts possession and consumption of marijuana or marijuana products by those under 21 years of age.
Are cigarettes considered a drug?
Yes, contrary to what many people believe, tobacco is a drug.
By definition, a drug is a nonfood substance that can cause changes in the function of the body and/or mind.
Tobacco leaves contain a complex mixture of chemicals that affect the body in many ways.
Nicotine is one of the main ingredients in tobacco. It is a drug that occurs naturally in the tobacco leaf, acting paradoxically as both a stimulant and a depressant. It is the substance that causes the craving for tobacco.
Nicotine can kill a person when taken in high concentrations all at once. Its action on the cardiovascular system, increasing cardiac output and raising blood pressure, probably contributes to the elevated risk of cardiovascular mortality in smokers.
How are drugs classified?
By a Schedule System
Schedule I: have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Ex: heroin and LSD.
Schedule II: drugs have a high potential for abuse and severe dependence, but have a currently accepted medical use. Ex: fentanyl, PCP, cocaine, methadone, methamphetamine, and codeine.
Schedule III; drugs have less potential for abuse than Schedule II drugs, a potential for moderate dependency and an accepted medical use. Ex: Anabolic steroids, buprenorphine
Schedule IV: less potential for abuse than Schedule III drugs, a limited potential for dependency, and are accepted in medical treatment. Ex: Valium, Xanax and other tranquilizers and sedatives.
Schedule V drugs have a low potential for abuse, limited risk for dependency and accepted medical uses. Ex: cough medicines with codeine.
Schedule VI: includes certain substances which are not “drugs” in the conventional sense, but are nonetheless used, or abused, recreationally; these include toluene (found in many types
of paint, especially spray paint) and similar inhalants such as amyl nitrite (or “poppers”), butyl nitrite, and nitrous oxide (found in many types of aerosol cans, though it is pharmacologically active, it is considered an inhalant). Many state and local governments enforce age limits on the sale of products containing these substances.
When is it legal to serve or offer alcohol to guests in your home?
Unless the guests are 21 years of age or older or are accompanied by a parent, guardian, or spouse who is 21 years of age or older, it is illegal for your parents to serve alcohol to guests in their home.
Is it legal to smoke marijuana and drive a vehicle?
No.
Similar to alcohol, you can be charged with a DUI/DUID while you are under the influence of marijuana.
Code of Virginia § 18.2-266 says that it is illegal for any person to drive a car while such person is under the influence of any narcotic drug or any other self-administered intoxicant or drug of whatsoever nature, or any combination of such drugs, to a degree which impairs his ability to drive or operate any motor vehicle; or while such person is under the combined influence of alcohol and any drug or drugs to a degree which impairs his ability to drive or operate any motor vehicle.
How old must you be to use tobacco?
Age 21.
According to Code of Virginia § 18.2-371.2(B): “No person less than 21 years of age shall purchase, attempt to purchase or possess any tobacco product, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, bidis, rolling papers, nicotine vapor products, and alternative nicotine products, and hemp products intended for smoking.”
The exception to this age restriction are active duty military personnel.
*Bidis are thin, often flavored, cigarettes from India or South Asia that are made of tobacco wrapped in a leaf.
OTC medications cannot be harmful to children.
False.
Even common medications, such as Tylenol, Benadryl and aspirin, can be extremely dangerous to children. Two 500 mg Tylenol tabs are appropriate for an adult but could cause severe liver damage to an infant. Or a family member's diabetic medication could cause life-threatening low glucose levels in a toddler.
Is a wine cooler considered alcohol?
Yes.
The term “alcoholic beverages” is defined in Code of Virginia § 4.1-100 as including "alcohol, spirits, wine, and beer, and any one or more of such varieties containing one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume, including mixed alcoholic beverages, and every liquid or solid, power or crystal, patented or not, containing alcohol, spirits, wine, or beer and capable of being consumed by a human being.” Crystallized alcohol is also included in this category and is also illegal.
Can you smoke marijuana as a passenger in a car?
No, it is illegal to use or consume marijuana as a passenger in a motor vehicle being driven on the public highways in Virginia.
It is a also Class 4 misdemeanor, punishable by a $250 fine, to consume marijuana or marijuana products while driving a motor vehicle on the public highways in Virginia.
(Code of Virginia § 4.1-1107)
At what age is it legal to vape?
Age 21
According to Code of Virginia § 18.2-371.2(B), It is illegal for minors to buy, sell or possess nicotine vapor products. This is a Class 4 misdemeanor.
Why should someone not take another person's prescription medication?
If you take a drug that is not prescribed to you, there is no way to know what the correct dosage is and how it will affect you. Also, you would not know if other medications that you are taking could have a dangerous interaction with the medication.
What are the three laws regarding marijuana that were passed in July 2021?
Persons 21 years of age or older...
1) May possess up to one ounce of cannabis on his person or in any public place
2) May use cannabis in private residences
3) May grow up to four marijuana plants per household
Are you able to smoke in your vehicle?
No, it is unlawful for a person to smoke in a motor vehicle, whether in motion or at rest, when a minor under the age of 15 is present in the motor vehicle.