1. Except as authorized by the provisions of NRS 453.011 to 453.552, inclusive, it is unlawful for a person to:

(a) Import, transport, sell, exchange, barter, supply, prescribe, dispense, give away or administer a controlled or counterfeit substance;

(b) Manufacture or compound a counterfeit substance; or

(c) Offer or attempt to do any act set forth in paragraph (a) or (b).

2. Unless a greater penalty is provided in NRS 453.333 or 453.334, if a person violates subsection 1 and the controlled substance is classified in schedule I or II, the person shall be punished:

(a) For the first offense, for a category C felony as provided in NRS 193.130.

(b) For a second offense, or if, in the case of a first conviction under this subsection, the offender has previously been convicted of an offense under this section or of any offense under the laws of the United States or any state, territory or district which, if committed in this State, would amount to an offense under this section, for a category B felony by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 10 years, and may be further punished by a fine of not more than $20,000.

(c) For a third or subsequent offense, or if the offender has previously been convicted two or more times under this section or of any offense under the laws of the United States or any state, territory or district which, if committed in this State, would amount to an offense under this section, for a category B felony by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 3 years and a maximum term of not more than 15 years, and may be further punished by a fine of not more than $20,000 for each offense.

3. Unless mitigating circumstances exist that warrant the granting of probation, the court shall not grant probation to or suspend the sentence of a person convicted under subsection 2 and punishable pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection 2.

4. Unless a greater penalty is provided in NRS 453.333 or 453.334, if a person violates subsection 1, and the controlled substance is classified in schedule III, IV or V, the person shall be punished:

(a) For the first offense, for a category D felony as provided in NRS 193.130.

(b) For a second offense, or if, in the case of a first conviction of violating this subsection, the offender has previously been convicted of violating this section or of any offense under the laws of the United States or any state, territory or district which, if committed in this State, would amount to a violation of this section, for a category C felony as provided in NRS 193.130.

(c) For a third or subsequent offense, or if the offender has previously been convicted two or more times of violating this section or of any offense under the laws of the United States or any state, territory or district which, if committed in this State, would amount to a violation of this section, for a category B felony by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 10 years, and may be further punished by a fine of not more than $15,000 for each offense.

5. Unless mitigating circumstances exist that warrant the granting of probation, the court shall not grant probation to or suspend the sentence of a person convicted under subsection 4 and punishable pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection 4.

(Added to NRS by 1971, 2018; A 1973, 1213, 1372; 1977, 1411; 1979, 1471, 1667; 1981, 739; 1983, 510; 1995, 1281; 1999, 2637; 2019, 4465, effective July 1, 2020)