The following definitions shall apply to this chapter:
“Count”
means the number of pills, tablets, capsules, or individual units of a substance contained within an individual package, box, or container.
“Customer”
means any person who knowingly purchases or acquires the products described in this chapter, or persons who are present for the purchase or acquisition of ephedrine.
“Ephedrine”
means any drug, substance, or compound, whether legal or illegal, that contains ephedrine hydrochloride, pseudoephedrine sulfate, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, pseudoephedrine, or ephedrine, except all of the above in its liquid state.
“Retailer”
means any single geographic location of any retail business, company, corporation, person, employee, or associate who furnishes, distributes, sells, or gives away ephedrine.
“Sell”
means to knowingly furnish, give away, exchange, transfer, deliver, surrender, or supply, whether for monetary gain or not.
(Ord. 26668 § 1, 2000-08-15)
A. 
Limit on sales. No retailer shall knowingly sell to a single customer, in any 24-hour period, more than three packages of a product containing ephedrine in counts of 48 or less per package, or containing a total weight of more than 3 grams of ephedrine per package. Ephedrine products may only be sold in packages containing a maximum count of up to 48.
B. 
Limit on purchase. No customer shall purchase or acquire, in any 24-hour period, more than three packages of a product containing ephedrine in counts of 48 or less per package, or containing a total weight of more than 3 grams of ephedrine per package.
C. 
Limit on total possession. No person shall be in possession of more than 15 grams of ephedrine.
D. 
Exceptions.
1. 
That Sections 8.140.020A, B, and C shall not apply to the sale, purchase, or possession of ephedrine dispensed by prescription as provided in RCW 69.41.
2. 
That Sections 8.140.020B and C shall not apply to the purchase or possession of ephedrine by shopkeepers required to register under RCW 18.64.044.
(Ord. 26668 § 1, 2000-08-15; Ord. 26743 § 1, 2000-12-05)
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter is deemed guilty of a gross misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $5,000, by imprisonment not to exceed one year, or by both fine and imprisonment.
(Ord. 26668 § 1, 2000-08-15; Ord. 26743 § 2, 2000-12-05)
Any retail business owner operating with a business license issued by the City of Tacoma who knowingly violates this chapter may be subject to the revocation or suspension of his/her business license. The process for seeking revocation or suspension shall be as set forth in Tacoma Municipal Code 6.02.070.
(Ord. 26668 § 1, 2000-08-15)
This ordinance will be reviewed annually and will be repealed upon passage of comparable state legislation.
(Ord. 26668 § 1, 2000-08-15)
Should any provision, section, paragraph, sentence, or word of this chapter be rendered or declared invalid, by any final court action in a court of competent jurisdiction or by reason of any preemptive legislation, the remaining provisions, sections, paragraphs, sentences, or words of this chapter shall remain in full force and effect.
(Ord. 26668 § 1, 2000-08-15)