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AB-837 • 2026

Ketamine.

Ketamine.

Crime Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Davies
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information about who will enforce the new regulations or how it affects current users and medical professionals legally using ketamine.

Ketamine Regulations

AB-837 makes it illegal to transport, import, sell, furnish, administer, or give away ketamine without proper authorization and increases penalties for violating these rules.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds ketamine to the list of substances that are regulated under existing drug laws.
  • Makes it a crime to transport, import, sell, furnish, administer, or give away ketamine unless allowed by law.
  • Increases jail time for those who break the new rules about ketamine from up to one year to 3, 4, or 5 years.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who transport, import, sell, furnish, administer, or give away ketamine without proper authorization.
  • Local law enforcement agencies that enforce drug regulations.

Terms To Know

Schedule III controlled substance
A type of drug regulated by the state, with restrictions on how it can be used or distributed.
State-mandated local program
A program where the state requires local agencies to follow certain rules without providing full funding for those requirements.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify who will be responsible for enforcing these new regulations.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect current users or medical professionals using ketamine legally.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Held under submission.

  4. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  5. 2025-03-28 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  6. 2025-03-27 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended.

  7. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 25).

  8. 2025-03-03 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  9. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

  10. 2025-02-19 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 837, as amended, Davies.
Ketamine.
Existing law, the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act, categorizes controlled substances into 5 designated schedules, places the greatest restrictions on those substances contained in Schedule I, and generally places the least restrictive limitations on controlled substances classified in Schedule V. Existing law categorizes ketamine as a Schedule III controlled substance.
Existing law makes it a crime to transport, import, sell, furnish, administer, or give away, including to offer or attempt to transport, import, sell, furnish, administer, or give away, specified controlled substances. Existing law makes a violation of that provision punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for 3, 4, or 5 years, except as specified.
Existing law, with a specified
exception, makes it a crime to possess for sale or sell ketamine. Existing law makes a violation of that provision punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than one year or in the state prison.
This bill would add ketamine to the list of substances for which it is a crime to transport, import, sell, furnish, administer, or give away. By expanding the scope of an existing
crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This bill would instead make a violation of that provision punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than one year or for 3, 4, or 5 years. The bill would also make it a crime to transport, import, furnish, administer, or give away, offer to transport, import, furnish,
administer, or give away, or attempt to import or transport ketamine into this state, except as specified. The bill would make a violation of these prohibitions punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for 3, 4, or 5 years. By creating a new crime and expanding the penalties for a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF