(1) Manufacturers, compounders, and processors, operating in conformance with the laws of this state relating to the manufacture, compounding, or processing of drugs, who are regularly engaged in preparing pharmaceutical chemicals or prescription drugs for distribution through branch outlets, through wholesale druggists, or by direct shipment:

(A) To pharmacies or to hospitals, clinics, public health agencies, or physicians for dispensing by registered pharmacists upon prescriptions, or for use by or under the supervision of practitioners licensed in this state to administer the drugs in the course of their professional practice; or

(B) To laboratories or research or educational institutions for their use in lawful research, teaching, or chemical analysis;

(2) Suppliers, operating in conformance with the laws of this state relating to the manufacture, compounding, or processing of drugs of manufacturers, compounders, and processors referred to in subdivision (1) of this section;

(3) Wholesale druggists who maintain their establishments in conformance with state and local laws relating to the manufacture, compounding, or processing of drugs and are regularly engaged in supplying prescription drugs:

(A) To pharmacies, or to hospitals, clinics, public health agencies, or physicians for dispensing by registered pharmacists upon prescriptions or for use by or under the supervision of practitioners licensed in this state to administer the drugs in the course of their professional practice; or

(B) To laboratories or research or educational institutions for their use in lawful research, teaching, or clinical analysis;

(4) Pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and public health agencies which maintain their establishments in conformance with state and local laws regulating the practice of pharmacy and medicine which are regularly engaged in dispensing drugs upon prescriptions of practitioners licensed in this state to administer the drugs for patients under the care of the practitioners in the course of their professional practice;

(5) Practitioners licensed in this state to prescribe or administer depressant or stimulant drugs, while acting in the course of their professional practice;

(6) Persons who use depressant or stimulant drugs in research, teaching, or chemical analysis and not for sale;

(7) Officers and employees of this state or of a political subdivision of this state or of the United States while acting in the course of their official duties; and

(8) An employee or agent of any person described in subdivisions (1) through (6) of this section and a nurse under the supervision of a practitioner licensed by law in this state to administer depressant or stimulant drugs, while the employee or nurse is acting in the course of his or her employment or occupation and not on his or her own account.