(1) Except as provided in Title 16, chapter 12, a person commits the offense of criminal possession with intent to distribute if the person possesses with intent to distribute any dangerous drug as defined in 50-32-101 in an amount greater than permitted or for which a penalty is not specified under Title 16, chapter 12.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), a person convicted of criminal possession with intent to distribute shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term of not more than 20 years or be fined an amount not to exceed $50,000, or both.
(3) A person convicted of criminal possession with intent to distribute fentanyl shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term of not less than 2 years or more than 40 years or may be fined not more than $50,000, or both. The court may not suspend execution or defer imposition of the first 2 years of the sentence, except as provided in 46-18-222 (1) through (4), and during the first 2 years of imprisonment, the offender is not eligible for parole.
(4) Practitioners, as defined in 50-32-101, and agents under their supervision acting in the course of a professional practice are exempt from this section.