16Offences relating to prescribed restricted substances

16 Offences relating to prescribed restricted substances

16 Offences relating to prescribed restricted substances

(1) A person shall not have in his or her possession or attempt to obtain possession of a prescribed restricted substance unless—

(a) the person is a medical practitioner, pharmacist, dentist or veterinary practitioner, and the person obtains possession or attempts to obtain possession of it in the lawful practice of the person’s profession as such,

(a1) the person is a nurse practitioner who is authorised under section 17A to possess the substance and the person obtains possession or attempts to obtain possession of it in the lawful practice of his or her profession,

(a2) the person is an optometrist who is authorised under section 17B to possess the substance and the person obtains possession or attempts to obtain possession of it in the lawful practice of his or her profession,

(a3) the person is a midwife practitioner who is authorised under section 17A to possess the substance and the person obtains possession or attempts to obtain possession of it in the lawful practice of his or her profession,

(a4) the person is a podiatrist who is authorised under section 17C to possess the substance and the person obtains possession or attempts to obtain possession of it in the lawful practice of his or her profession,

(b) the person obtains possession or attempts to obtain possession of it on and in accordance with the prescription of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, midwife practitioner, dentist, optometrist, podiatrist or veterinary practitioner for its supply to the person,

(c) the person is a person or belongs to a class of persons authorised by the Secretary for the purposes of section 10 (4) (c),

(d) the person is a person authorised in writing by the Secretary to obtain possession of the prescribed restricted substance for the purposes of the person’s profession or employment and obtains, or attempts to obtain, as the case may be, possession of the prescribed restricted substance in accordance with any conditions subject to which the person is so authorised,

(d1) the person is a person who has the care of, or is assisting in the care of, another person (for or to whom the supply of the substance has been authorised by the prescription of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, midwife practitioner, optometrist, podiatrist or dentist) and has the prescribed restricted substance in his or her possession for the sole purpose of administering, or assisting in the self-administration of, the substance to the other person in accordance with that prescription, or