Controlled substances: xylazine.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the specific penalties for making, selling, or using drug paraphernalia that tests for xylazine.

Controlled Substances: Xylazine

The bill adds xylazine to Schedule III of California's Controlled Substances Act and excludes testing equipment that checks for the presence of xylazine from being considered drug paraphernalia.

What This Bill Does

• Adds xylazine, a medicine used on animals, to Schedule III of California's Controlled Substances Act.
• Excludes testing equipment that checks for the presence of xylazine from being considered drug paraphernalia.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who work with animals and need to use xylazine.
• Manufacturers of testing equipment that check for the presence of xylazine.

Terms To Know

Schedule III

A category in California's Controlled Substances Act where substances have a lower risk than Schedule I but still need strict control.

Drug paraphernalia

Items used to make, use, or sell controlled substances illegally.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if xylazine is needed for animals but cannot be legally obtained.
• It's unclear how this will affect the availability of testing equipment that checks for xylazine in different settings.

Official Summary Text

SB 6, as introduced, Ashby.
Controlled substances: xylazine.
Existing law, the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act, categorizes controlled substances into 5 schedules and places the greatest restrictions on those substances contained in Schedule I. Under existing law, the substances in Schedule I are deemed to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use while substances in Schedules II through V are substances that have an accepted medical use, but have the potential for abuse. Existing law restricts the prescription, furnishing, possession, sale, and use of controlled substances, and makes a violation of those laws a crime, except as specified. Existing law defines drug paraphernalia and prohibits, among other things, the manufacture, sale, and possession, as specified, of drug paraphernalia. Existing law excludes from these prohibitions any testing equipment that is designed, marketed, used, or intended to be used to analyze a substance for the presence of
fentanyl, ketamine, gamma hydroxybutyric acid, or any analog of fentanyl.
This bill would add xylazine to the list of Schedule III substances, as specified. If an animal drug containing xylazine that has been approved under the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act is not available for sale in California, the bill would create an exception for a substance that is intended to be used to compound an animal drug, as specified. The bill would exclude from the prohibitions on paraphernalia any testing equipment to analyze a substance for the presence of xylazine. By creating a new crime, the 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

Download Bill PDF