S 5443: Establishes the crime of unlawful possession or sale of imitation drug paraphernalia when such person knowingly possesses, purchases, delivers, sells, or possesses with intent to sell or deliver any punch, die, plate, stone, pill press, tableting machine, encapsulating machine or any other equipment in order to print, imprint, or reproduce the trademark, trade name or other identifying mark, imprint or device of another or any likeness of any of the foregoing upon any substance or container or labeling thereof knowing, intending, or having reasonable cause to believe that it will be used to manufacture an imitation drug.
The bill aims to prohibit the possession or sale of imitation drug paraphernalia, which includes equipment used to print or reproduce the trade mark or identifying mark of a drug. A person is guilty of this offense if they knowingly possess or sell such equipment, or if they intend to sell or deliver it. The law makes an exception for regulated transactions with regular customers or regular importers who are in compliance with federal regulations. The bill defines an imitation drug as a substance that, by appearance, is represented to be a drug, but is not. Examples of evidence of representation include price, packaging, and markings. The offense is considered a class A misdemeanor. The law takes effect 30 days after it becomes a law.
- What is the current status of S 5443?
- As of January 9, 2026, S 5443 is recorded as "Introduced": it has been introduced and is waiting for its first committee hearing or floor vote. The last recorded action, on January 7, 2026, was "REFERRED TO CODES".
- Did S 5443 pass?
- Not yet. S 5443 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
- Who wrote S 5443, and where is it now?
- S 5443 was authored by Sen. Jacob Ashby. Its committee of record is Senate Codes.
| Jan. 07, 2026 | REFERRED TO CODES |
| Feb. 21, 2025 | REFERRED TO CODES |
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5443 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE February 21, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. ASHBY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to unlawful possession or sale of imitation drug paraphernalia The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 220.57 to 2 read as follows: 3 § 220.57 Unlawful possession or sale of imitation drug paraphernalia. 4 1. A person is guilty of unlawful possession or sale of imitation drug 5 paraphernalia when such person knowingly possesses, purchases, delivers, 6 sells, or possesses with intent to sell or deliver any punch, die, 7 plate, stone, pill press, tableting machine, encapsulating machine or 8 any other equipment in order to print, imprint, or reproduce the trade- 9 mark, trade name or other identifying mark, imprint or device of another 10 or any likeness of any of the foregoing upon any substance or container 11 or labeling thereof knowing, intending, or having reasonable cause to 12 believe that it will be used to manufacture an imitation drug. 13 2. A regulated person may possess, purchase, deliver, sell, or possess 14 with intent to deliver or sell a punch, die, plate, stone, pill press, 15 tableting machine, encapsulating machine or any other equipment in order 16 to print, imprint, or reproduce the trademark, trade name or other iden- 17 tifying mark, imprint or device of another or any likeness of any of the 18 foregoing upon any substance or container or labeling thereof as part of 19 a regulated transaction with a regular customer or regular importer if 20 such regular customer or regular importer is in compliance with 21 21 U.S.C. s. 830. For purposes of this subdivision, the terms "regulated 22 person," "regulated transaction," "regular customer," and "regular 23 importer" have the same meanings as provided in 21 U.S.C. s. 802. 24 3. As used in this section the term "imitation drug" means a 25 substance, other than a drug, as defined in subdivision seven of section EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD08937-01-5S. 5443 2 1 sixty-eight hundred two of the education law, that is not a drug, which 2 by dosage unit appearance, including color, shape and size and by a 3 representation is represented to be a drug. Evidence of representation 4 that the substance is a drug may include but is not limited to oral or 5 written representations by the manufacturer or seller, as the case may 6 be, about the substance with regard to: 7 (a) its price, nature, use or effect as a drug; or 8 (b) its packaging in a manner normally used for drugs; or 9 (c) markings on the substance. 10 Unlawful possession or sale of imitation drug paraphernalia is a class 11 A misdemeanor. 12 § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall 13 have become a law.