Under federal law (applicable in all states) it is illegal for a person to knowingly or intentionally manufacture, distribute, or dispense a controlled substance—or to possess a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense it. It is also illegal to create, distribute, or dispense a counterfeit substance, or to possess a counterfeit substance with the intent to distribute or dispense it.

The term controlled substance means a drug or other substance—or an immediate precursor to the drug or other substance—that is included in schedule I, II, III, IV, or V of the relevant portion of the United States Code (statute). See 21 U.S.C. §841.

The term counterfeit substance means a controlled substance (or its container or labeling) that—without authorization—bears the trademark, trade name, or other identifying mark, imprint, or number of a manufacturer, distributor, or dispenser other than the person or persons who in fact manufactured, distributed, or dispensed the substance. In other words, a counterfeit substance is falsely represented to be manufactured or distributed by an another (presumably authorized) manufacturer, distributor, or dispenser.

It is also illegal for a person to knowingly or intentionally manufacture, distribute, or dispense a controlled substance—or to possess a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense it—under state law. As under federal law, state laws usually classify substances in groups or schedules that determine which substances are included in the definition of controlled substances, and the potential penalties or punishments for distributing them.

Criminal charges and penalties for these offenses vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s statutes.

Under both federal and Iowa state law, it is illegal to manufacture, distribute, or dispense controlled substances, or to possess them with the intent to do so. Controlled substances are classified into schedules I through V, with Schedule I substances being considered the most dangerous and having a high potential for abuse, and Schedule V substances being the least dangerous. The federal statute governing these offenses is 21 U.S.C. §841. In Iowa, similar regulations are outlined in the Iowa Controlled Substances Act, which mirrors the federal scheduling system and imposes penalties for the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, or possession with intent to engage in these activities. Additionally, both federal and Iowa law prohibit the creation, distribution, or dispensing of counterfeit substances, which are drugs misrepresented as being produced by an authorized manufacturer. Penalties for these offenses in Iowa are severe and can include imprisonment, fines, or both, depending on the quantity and schedule of the controlled substance involved.