Controlled Substances Act - Updates.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 444

Short Title: Controlled Substances Act - Updates. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Hanig (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 25, 2025
*S444-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO UPDATE THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT. 2
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 3
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 90-89(1) reads as rewritten: 4
"(1) Opiates. – Any of the following opiates or opioids, including the isomers, 5
esters, ethers, salts and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers, unless specifically 6
excepted, or listed in another schedule, whenever the existence of such 7
isomers, esters, ethers, and salts is possible within the specific chemical 8
designation: 9
… 10
sss. AP-237. 11
ttt. 2-methyl AP-237. 12
uuu. (ortho, meta, or para)-methyl AP-237. 13
vvv. AP-238. 14
www. (ortho, meta, or para)-hydroxy 2-methyl AP-237. 15
xxx. 2-Naphthyl U-47700. 16
yyy. 1-Naphthyl U-47700. 17
zzz. 4-(Trifluoromethyl) U-47700. 18
aaaa. Methoxy U-47700. 19
bbbb. Furanyl UF-17. 20
cccc. Cyclopropyl U-47700. 21
dddd. Phenyl U-47700. 22
eeee. Ethyl U-47700. 23
ffff. (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro-N,N-didesmethyl U-47700. 24
gggg. (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro U-49900. 25
hhhh. (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro-N-desmethyl U-47700. 26
iiii. 4-fluoro U-47931E. 27
jjjj. (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro U-51754. 28
kkkk. (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro Isopropyl U-47700. 29
llll. (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro Propyl U-47700. 30
mmmm. (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro U-50488. 31
nnnn. (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro U-48800. 32
oooo. (2,3- or 3,4 or 2,4)-difluoro U-47700. 33
pppp. UF-17. 34
qqqq. U-47109. 35
rrrr. U-48520. 36
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 444-First Edition
ssss. N,N-didesmethyl U-47700. 1
tttt. U-62066. 2
uuuu. Propyl U-47700. 3
vvvv. (2,3- or 3,4)-Ethylenedioxy U-51754. 4
wwww. 4-phenyl U-51754. 5
xxxx. N-desmethyl U-47700. 6
yyyy. (2,3- or 3,4)-Ethylenedioxy U-47700. 7
zzzz. N-methyl U-47931E. 8
aaaaa. (2,3- or 3,4)-Methylenedioxy U-47700. 9
bbbbb. U-69593. 10
ccccc. U-50488. 11
ddddd. U-48753E. 12
eeeee. U-47931E." 13
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 90-89(1a) reads as rewritten: 14
"(1a) Fentanyl derivatives. – Unless specifically excepted, listed in another 15
schedule, or contained within a pharmaceutical product approved by the 16
United States Food and Drug Administration, any compound structurally 17
derived from N -[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-N-phenylpropanamide 18
(Fentanyl) by any substitution on or replacement of the phenethyl group, any 19
substitution on the piperidine ring, any substitution on or replacement of the 20
propanamide group, any substitution on the anilido phenyl group, or any 21
combination of the above unless specifically excepted or listed in another 22
schedule to include their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers. Fentanyl 23
derivatives include, but are not limited to, the following: 24
… 25
f.26
N-(2-fluorophenyl)-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-propana27
mide (also known as 2 -fluorofentanyl).(also known as 28
ortho-fluorofentanyl). 29
g.30
N-(3-fluorophenyl)-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-propana31
mide (also known as 3 -fluorofentanyl).(also known as 32
meta-fluorofentanyl). 33
… 34
i.35
N-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]36
-propanamide (also known as 4 -fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, 37
4-FIBF).(also known as 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl). 38
j. N-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-butanamide 39
(also known as 4 -fluorobutyryl fentanyl, 4 -FBF).(also known as 40
para-fluorobutyryl fentanyl)." 41
SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 90-89 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 42
"(1b) Nitazene derivatives. – The N -substituted benzimidazole structural class, 43
including any of the following derivatives, their salts, isomers, or salts of 44
isomers unless specifically utilized as part of the manufacturing process by a 45
commercial industry of a substance or material not inte nded for human 46
ingestion or consumption, as a prescription administered under medical 47
supervision, or for research at a recognized institution, whenever the existence 48
of these salts, isomers, or salts of isomers is possible within the specific 49
chemical designation or unless specifically excepted or listed in this or another 50
schedule, structurally derived from benzimidazole by substitution at the 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 444-First Edition Page 3
1-position nitrogen with an ethylamine group, and by substitution at the 1
2-position carbon with a benzyl group, whether or not the compound is further 2
modified in any of the following ways: 3
a. By monoalkyl or dialkyl substitution on the 1 '-nitrogen of the 4
1-position ethylamine group, or by inclusion of the nitrogen in a cyclic 5
structure. 6
b. By substitution on the 2 '-methylene carbon of the benzyl group by 7
alkyl or carboxamide groups. 8
c. By replacement of the 2'-methylene carbon group with an ethylbenzyl, 9
thiophenol, or methoxybenzene group, which may be further 10
substituted with alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, acetoxy, halide , or sulfide 11
groups. 12
d. By substitution at the 2 '-position, 3 '-position, or 4 '-position of the 13
benzyl group, or both, with alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, acetoxy, halide, 14
or sulfide groups. 15
e. By replacement of a phenyl hydrogen atom at either the 5 -position or 16
6-position of the benzimidazole core with a nitro, or primary amine 17
group." 18
SECTION 1.(d) G.S. 90-89(3)mm. reads as rewritten: 19
"mm. 5-methoxy-N-methyl-N-propyltryptamine 20
(5-MeO-MiPT).5-methoxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine 21
(5-MeO-MiPT)." 22
SECTION 1.(e) G.S. 90-89(4) is amended by adding a new sub-subdivision to read: 23
"j. Bromazolam." 24
SECTION 1.(f) G.S. 90-89(5)j. reads as rewritten: 25
"j. Substituted cathinones. A compound, other than bupropion, that is 26
structurally derived from 2 -amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone by 27
modification in any of the following ways: (i) by substitution in the 28
phenyl ring to any extent with alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenedioxy, haloalkyl, 29
or halide substituents, whether or not further substituted in the phenyl 30
ring by one or more other univalent substituents; (ii) by substitution at 31
the 3-position to any extent; or (iii) by substitution at the nitrogen atom 32
with alkyl, dialkyl, benzyl, cycloalkyl, or methoxybenzyl groups or by 33
inclusion of the nitrogen atom in a cyclic structure. For the purpose of 34
this paragraph, the term "isomer" includes the optical, positional, or 35
geometric isomer." 36
SECTION 1.(g) G.S. 90-89(7) reads as rewritten: 37
"(7) Synthetic cannabinoids. – Any quantity of any synthetic chemical compound 38
that (i) is a cannabinoid r eceptor agonist and mimics the pharmacological 39
effect of naturally occurring substances or (ii) has a stimulant, depressant, or 40
hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that is not listed as a 41
controlled substance in Schedules I through V, and i s not an FDA -approved 42
drug. Synthetic cannabinoids include, but are not limited to, the substances 43
listed in sub-subdivisions a. through p. v. of this subdivision and any substance 44
that contains any quantity of their salts, isomers (whether optical, positi onal, 45
or geometric), homologues, and salts of isomers and homologues, unless 46
specifically excepted, whenever the existence of these salts, isomers, 47
homologues, and salts of isomers and homologues is possible within the 48
specific chemical designation. The fo llowing substances are examples of 49
synthetic cannabinoids and are not intended to be inclusive of the substances 50
included in this Schedule: 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 Senate Bill 444-First Edition
… 1
l. Indole carboxamides. Any compound structurally derived from 2
1H-indole-3-carboxamide or 1H-indole-2-carboxamide substituted in 3
one or both of the following ways: 4
1. At the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, 5
cyanoalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 6
1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, 2 -(4-morpholinyl)ethyl, 7
1-(N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl, 8
1-(N-methyl-3-morpholinyl)methyl, tetrahydropyranylmethyl, 9
benzyl, or halo benzyl group; andor 10
2. At the nitrogen of the carboxamide by a phenyl, benzyl, 11
naphthyl, adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde 12
group;group, or methyl 3,3-dimethyl-butanoate group; 13
whether or not the compound is further modified to any extent 14
in the following ways: (i) substitution to the indole ring to any 15
extent, (ii) substitution to the phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, 16
adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group to any 17
extent, (iii) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the indole ring, or 18
(iv) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the phenyl, benzyl, 19
naphthyl, adamantyl, or cyclopropyl ring. Substances in this 20
class include, but are not limited to: SDB -001 and 21
STS-135.STS-135 and MDMB-ICA. 22
… 23
n. Indazole carboxaldehydes. Any compound structurally derived from 24
1H-indazole-3-carboxaldehyde or 1H -indazole-2-carboxaldehyde 25
substituted in both of the following ways: 26
… 27
2. At the carbon of the carboxaldehyde by a phenyl, benzyl, 28
naphthyl, adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group; 29
whether or not the compound is further modified to any extent 30
in the following ways: (i) substitution to the indazole ring to 31
any extent, (ii) substitution to the phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, 32
adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group to any 33
extent, (iii) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the indazole ring, 34
or (iv) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the phenyl, benzyl, 35
naphthyl, adamantyl, or cyclopropyl ring. 36
o. Indazole carboxamides. Any compound structurally derived from 37
1H-indazole-3-carboxamide or 1H -indazole-2-carboxamide 38
substituted in one or both of the following ways: 39
1. At the nitrogen atom of the indazole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, 40
cyanoalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 41
1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, 2 -(4-morpholinyl)ethyl, 42
1-(N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl, 43
1-(N-methyl-3-morpholinyl)methyl, tetrahydropyranylmethyl, 44
benzyl, or halo benzyl group; andor 45
2. At the nitrogen of the carboxamide by a phenyl, benzyl, 46
naphthyl, adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde 47
group;group, or methyl 3,3-dimethyl-butanoate group; 48
whether or not the compound is further modified to any extent 49
in the following ways: (i) substitution to the indazole ring to 50
any extent, (ii) substitution to the phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 444-First Edition Page 5
adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group to any 1
extent, (iii) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the indazole ring, 2
or (iv) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the phenyl, benzyl, 3
naphthyl, adamantyl, or cyclopropyl ring. Substances in this 4
class include, but are not limited to: AKB-48, fluoro-AKB-48, 5
APINCACA, AB-PINACA, AB -FUBINACA, 6
ADB-FUBINACA, and ADB-PINACA.ADB-PINACA, 7
ADB-INACA, MDMB -INACA, MDMB -5Me-INACA, and 8
MDMB-5Br-INACA. 9
… 10
s. Oxindoles. Any compound structurally derived from 11
3-hydrazonoindolin-2-one substituted in one or both of the following 12
ways: 13
1. At the nitrogen atom of the oxoindole ring by an alkyl, 14
haloalkyl, cyanoalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, 15
cycloalkylethyl; or 16
2. At the nitrogen of the hydrazide by a phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, 17
adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group; whether or 18
not the compound is further modified to any extent in the 19
following ways: (i) substitution to the oxoindole ring to any 20
extent or (ii) substitution to the phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, 21
adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group to any 22
extent. Substances in this class include, but are not limited to: 23
BZO-POXIZID, BZO-HEXOXIZIDE, 5F-BZO-POXIZIDE. 24
t. Indole acetamides. Any compound structurally derived from 25
1H-indole-3-acetamide or 1H-indole-2-acetamide substituted in one or 26
both of the following ways: 27
1. At the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, 28
cyanoalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 29
1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, 2 -(4-morpholinyl)ethyl, 30
1-(N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl, 31
1-(N-methyl-3-morpholinyl)methyl, tetrahydropyranylmethyl, 32
benzyl, or halo benzyl group; or 33
2. At the nitrogen of the acetamide by a phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, 34
adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group; whether or 35
not the compound is further modified to any extent in the 36
following ways: (i) substitution to the indole ring to any extent, 37
(ii) substitution to the phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, adamantyl, 38
cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group to any ext ent, (iii) a 39
nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the indole ring, or (iv) a 40
nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, 41
adamantyl, or cyclopropyl ring. Substances in this class 42
include, but are not limited to: AFUBIATA, CH -PIATA, 43
AB-CHMIATA, ADB-FUBIATA. 44
u. Indazole acetaldehydes. Any compound structurally derived from 45
1H-indazol-3-ylacetaldehyde or 1H -indazol-2-ylacetaldehyde 46
substituted in one or both of the following ways: 47
1. At the nitrogen atom of the indazole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, 48
cyanoalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 49
1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, 2 -(4-morpholinyl)ethyl, 50
1-(N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl, 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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1-(N-methyl-3-morpholinyl)methyl, tetrahydropyranylmethyl, 1
benzyl, or halo benzyl group; or 2
2. At the nitrogen of the carboxamide by a phenyl, benzyl, 3
naphthyl, adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group; 4
whether or not the compound is further modified to any extent 5
in the following ways: (i) substitution to the indazole ring to 6
any extent, (ii) subs titution to the phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, 7
adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group to any 8
extent, (iii) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the indazole ring, 9
or (iv) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the phenyl, benzyl, 10
naphthyl, adamantyl, or cyclo propyl ring. Substances in this 11
class include, but are not limited to: ADB -BUTINAATA, 12
ADB-FUBINAATA. 13
v. Pyrazoles. Any compound structurally derived from 1H -pyrazole 14
substituted in all of the following ways: 15
1. At the 1 position of the pyrazole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, or 16
alkenyl group. 17
2. At the 3 position of the pyrazole ring by a halo benzyl or 18
propionaldehyde group. 19
3. At the 5 position of the pyrazole ring by a hal o benzyl or 20
propionaldehyde group; whether or not the compound is 21
further modified by a substitution to the propionaldehyde 22
group to any extent. Substances in this class include, but are 23
not limited to: 3,5 -ADB-4en-PFUPPYCA, 24
5-fluoro-3,5-AB-PFUPPYCA." 25
SECTION 1.(h) G.S. 90-90(2)h1. reads as rewritten: 26
"h1. Fentanyl immediate precursor che mical, 27
4-anilino-N-phenethyl-4-piperidine 28
(ANPP).4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperdine (ANPP)." 29
SECTION 1.(i) G.S. 90-91(k)11. reads as rewritten: 30
"11. Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone,Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone," 31
SECTION 1.(j) G.S. 90-91(k)16. reads as rewritten: 32
"16. Mesterolene,Mesterolone," 33
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law. 34