Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 53 Part 1.djvu/281

 NARCOTICS 271 (b) DECOCAINIZED COCA LEAVEs. -T he provisions of this subchapter and part V of subchapter A of chapter 27 shall not apply to de- cocainized coca leaves or preparations made therefrom, or to other preparations of coca leaves which do not contain cocaine. (c) GOVERNMENT AND STATE OFFICIALS. - (1) STAMPING DRUGS. -Officials of the United States, Territorial, District of Columbia, or insular possessions, State or municipal governments, who in the exercise of their official duties engage in any of the business described in part V of subchapter A of chapter 27, shall not be required to stamp the drugs mentioned in section 2550 (a), as hereinafter prescribed, but their right to this exemption shall be evidenced in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe. (2) REGISTRATIoN AND PAYMENT OF TAX.- For exemption of officials of the United States, Territorial, District of Columbia, or insular possessions, State or municipal governments from the requirements as to registration and the payment of special taxes, see subsection (b) of section 3222. (3) CRoss REFERENCE.- For authority of the Secretary to delegate such powers and duties, see subchapter D. SEC. 2552. STAMPS. (a) AFFIXING. - The stamps provided in subsection (c) (1) of sec- tion 2550 shall be so affixed to the bottle or other container as to se- curely seal the stopper, covering, or wrapper thereof. (b) OTHER LAWS APPLICABLE.-A ll the provisions of law relating to the engraving, issuance, sale, accountability, cancellation, and de- struction of tax-paid stamps provided for in the internal revenue laws shall, in so far as necessary, be extended and made to apply to the stamps provided in subsection (c) (1) of section 2550. (c) CRoss REFERENCE.- For general provisions relating to stamps, see part I of subchapter A of chapter 28. SEC. 2553. PACKAGES. (a) GENERAL REQUIREMENT.-It shall be unlawful for any person to purchase, sell, dispense, or distribute any of the drugs mentioned in section 2550 (a) except in the original stamped package or from the original stamped package; and the absence of apopopriate tax- paid stamps for any of the aforesaid drugs shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this subsection by the person in whose pos- session same may be found; and the possession of any original stamped package containing any of the aforesaid drugs by any per- son who has not registered and paid special taxes as required by sections 3221 and 3220 shall be prima facie evidence of liability to such special tax. (b) ExcEPTroNs IN CASE OF REGISTERED PRACTTIONEIR.-The pro- visions of subsection (a) shall not apply- (1) PREscRIPTIoNs. -To any person having in his or her posses- sion any of the drugs mentioned in section 2550 (a) which have been obtained from a registered dealer in pursuance of a pre- scription, written for legitimate medical uses, issued by a physician, dentist, veterinary surgeon, or other practitioner registered under section 3221; and where the bottle or other container in which such drug may be put up by the dealer upon said prescription bears the name and registry number of the druggist, serial number of prescription, name and address of the patient, and name, address, and registry number of the person writing said prescription; or (2) DISPENSATIONS DIRECT TO PATIENTS. -To the dispensing, or administration, or giving away of any of the aforesaid drugs to a patient by a registered physician, dentist, veterinary surgeon, or other practitioner in the course of his professional practice,

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