(a) Except for lawful research, clinical, medical, dental or veterinary purposes, no person, with purpose to induce intoxication or similar physiological effects, shall obtain, possess or use a harmful intoxicant.
(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of abusing harmful intoxicants, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a drug abuse offense, abusing harmful intoxicants is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(c) In addition to any other sanction imposed upon an offender for a violation of this section, the court may suspend for not more than five years the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit. However, if the offender pleaded guilty to or was convicted of a violation of Ohio R.C. 4511.19 or a substantially similar municipal ordinance or the law of another state or the United States arising out of the same set of circumstances as the violation, the court shall suspend the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit for not more than five years. (ORC 2925.31)