Possession of Precursors (Meth or PCP)

Not only is it illegal to possess methamphetamine or PCP, but it is also illegal to possess the ingredients with the intent to manufacture these drugs.

California Health and Safety Code Section 11383 (a) applies to the ingredients for methamphetamine, making it a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for a period of 2, 4, or 6 years. Section 11383 (a) reads in pertinent part:

"(a) Any person who possesses both methylamine and phenyl-2-propanone (phenylacetone) at the same time with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, or who possesses both ethylamine and phenyl-2-propanone (phenylacetone) at the same time with the intent to manufacture N-ethylamphetamine, is guilty of a felony…"

The following ingredients, if possessed with intent to manufacture, will be used to convict the person for 2, 4, or years in state prison:

 Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, N-methylephedrine, N-ethylephedrine, N-methylpseudoephedrine, N-ethylpseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine, plus hydriodic acid.

 Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, N-methylephedrine, N-ethylephedrine, N-methylpseudoephedrine, N-ethylpseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine, thionyl chloride and hydrogen gas.

 Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, N-methylephedrine, N-ethylephedrine, N-methylpseudoephedrine, N-ethylpseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine, plus phosphorus pentachloride and hydrogen gas.

 Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, N-methylephedrine, N-ethylephedrine, N-methylpseudoephedrine, N-ethylpseudoephedrine, chloroephedrine and chloropseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine, plus any reducing agent.

California Health and Safety Code Section 11383 (b) applies to PCP, making it a felony to possess the ingredients of PCP, making it punishable for 2, 4, or 6 years. Section 11383 (b) reads in pertinent part:

"(b) Any person who possesses at the same time any of the following combinations, or a combination product thereof, with intent to manufacture phencyclidine (PCP) or any of its analogs specified in paragraph (22) of subdivision (d) of Section 11054 or paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 11055 is guilty of a felony:

(1) Piperidine and cyclohexanone.
(2) Pyrrolidine and cyclohexanone.
(3) Morpholine and cyclohexanone."