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HB 2319

Drug and controlled paraphernalia; creates exception for drug checking products.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Sickles and 3 co-sponsors

Virginia legalizes drug checking products like fentanyl test strips as harm-reduction tools, effective July 1, 2025, removing paraphernalia charges for their possession and distribution.

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0266)
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Bill Summary · HB 2319

Legislative bill overview

HB 2319 creates a legal exception in Virginia's drug paraphernalia laws to permit the possession and distribution of drug checking products—such as fentanyl test strips and reagent testing kits. The bill allows these harm-reduction tools to be used without criminal penalty, even though they're technically drug paraphernalia under existing law.

Why is this important

Drug checking products enable users to test substances for dangerous adulterants like fentanyl, potentially preventing overdose deaths. This legislative change reflects a public health approach to substance use by removing legal barriers to harm-reduction tools while maintaining broader drug paraphernalia restrictions.

Potential points of contention

  • Enabling vs. preventing drug use: Critics may argue the law facilitates illicit drug consumption; supporters contend it saves lives without increasing drug use rates
  • Implementation ambiguity: Unclear boundaries on which specific products qualify, who can distribute them, and enforcement disparities across jurisdictions
  • Broader policy disagreement: Reflects fundamental difference between criminalization and harm-reduction approaches to drug policy

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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