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AB-837 • 2026

Ketamine.

Ketamine.

Crime Education
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Davies
Last action
Official status
Assembly - Died - Appropriations
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text repeats sections and contains slight variations between paragraphs regarding penalties, but consistently points to county jail terms for the new provisions.

AB-837: Ketamine

This law adds ketamine to the list of substances where it is illegal to transport, import, sell, furnish, administer, or give away in California.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds ketamine to a list of controlled substances for which transporting, importing, selling, furnishing, administering, or giving them away is a crime.
  • Makes it a crime to offer or attempt to transport, import, furnish, administer, or give away ketamine into the state.
  • Sets penalties for these new crimes at 3, 4, or 5 years in county jail.
  • Changes existing penalties so violations can result in up to one year in county jail or 3 to 5 years depending on the act.
  • States that no state reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who transport, import, sell, furnish, administer, give away, offer, or attempt these actions with ketamine
  • Local agencies and school districts in California

Terms To Know

Schedule III controlled substance
A category for drugs under current law that has specific restrictions.
State-mandated local program
A rule created by the state that requires local agencies to spend money or take action, which usually triggers reimbursement requirements.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The text mentions exceptions exist but does not list what they are.
  • The specific reason why no reimbursement is required is stated as 'specified' but not explained in the summary.
  • The effective date for when this law starts is not provided.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Assembly - Died - Appropriations

Official Summary Text

Ketamine.