Is PCP legal in U.S. Virgin Islands (US)?

Also known as: angel dust

Legal status

PCP is controlled federally and locally. Federal Schedule II under the Controlled Substances Act, 21 CFR 1308.12(e), DEA code 7471, listed as Phencyclidine, and separately controlled under the Virgin Islands Controlled Substances Law, title 19 of the Virgin Islands Code, chapter 29, whose schedules are at 19 V.I.C. sec. 595.

Consequences if caught

The federal Controlled Substances Act applies here. 21 U.S.C. 802(26) defines the term State to mean 'a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States', so the federal schedules and the federal offences reach this territory directly. Federally this is a Schedule II controlled substance, 21 CFR 1308.12(e), DEA code 7471, listed as Phencyclidine. Federal simple possession is 21 U.S.C. 844(a). A first offence carries 'a term of imprisonment of not more than 1 year, and shall be fined a minimum of $1,000, or both'. The Virgin Islands Controlled Substances Law, title 19 of the Virgin Islands Code, chapter 29, whose schedules are at 19 V.I.C. sec. 595 applies as well. The penalty provisions of that chapter were not read here. No territorial penalty figure is stated for that reason. Two statutes reach the same conduct here, the federal Act and the territory's own, and which one is charged decides the exposure. Which prosecutor takes a given case, and on what criteria, was not established here.

If prescribed or medical

There is no traveller prescription route. This substance has no accepted medical use in the United States and no prescribable form, so a foreign prescription cannot authorise possession of it.

Documentation

Carry any prescribed medicine in its original packaging with the prescription. Bringing a controlled substance into this territory from the mainland United States or from abroad engages federal importation and customs provisions as well as the territorial law, and neither was read here.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with U.S. Virgin Islands (US)’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.