Vermont § 4250 - Selling or dispensing a regulated drug with death resulting

§ 4250. Selling or dispensing a regulated drug with death resulting

• (a) If the death of a person results from the selling or dispensing of a regulated drug
  to the person in violation of this chapter, the person convicted of the violation
  shall be imprisoned not less than two years nor more than 20 years. (b) This section shall apply only if the person’s use of the regulated drug is the proximate
  cause of the person’s death. The fact that a dispensed or sold substance contains
  more than one regulated drug shall not be a defense under this section if the proximate
  cause of death is the use of the dispensed or sold substance containing more than
  one regulated drug. (c)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the two-year minimum term
  of imprisonment required by this section shall be served and may not be suspended,
  deferred, or served as a supervised sentence. The defendant shall not be eligible
  for probation, parole, furlough, or any other type of early release until the expiration
  of the two-year term of imprisonment. (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (1) of this subsection, the court may impose a sentence
  that does not include a term of imprisonment or that includes a term of imprisonment
  of less than two years if the court makes findings on the record that the sentence
  will serve the interests of justice. (Added 2003, No. 54, § 10; amended 2023, No. 125 (Adj. Sess.), § 17, eff. July 1, 2024.)