Bill > SB6

This bill adds xylazine, a sedative used in veterinary medicine that has not been approved for human use, to Schedule III of California's controlled substances list. The bill aims to address the growing concern over xylazine's presence in the illicit drug supply, where it is often mixed with fentanyl, increasing the risk of overdose and posing challenges for first responders because it cannot be reversed with naloxone. The legislation includes provisions to add xylazine to the list of controlled substances while ensuring that veterinary uses are protected, by creating an exception for compounding animal drugs if an approved animal drug containing xylazine is not available for sale in California. The bill also updates drug paraphernalia regulations to exclude testing equipment designed to detect xylazine, similar to existing exceptions for other substances like fentanyl. Importantly, the bill recognizes xylazine's potential to exacerbate the opioid epidemic, with lawmakers noting that while xylazine's prevalence is currently low in California, proactive measures are necessary to prevent further drug market saturation. By creating new regulatory restrictions, the bill seeks to deter the illicit use of xylazine while maintaining its legitimate veterinary applications.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB6