Bill > S04676

This bill adds xylazine, a chemical compound primarily used as a veterinary sedative, to the list of controlled substances in New York state's public health law. The legislation specifically designates xylazine as a Schedule I controlled substance, which means it has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use for humans. However, the bill creates an exception for veterinary use, allowing xylazine to be possessed, sold, administered, prescribed, or distributed when it is expressly intended for injections to cattle or other nonhuman species and has been approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Any individual who knowingly administers xylazine to a human, or uses it for purposes other than veterinary injection, will be subject to the same legal penalties as those who violate other controlled substance regulations. The bill will go into effect 30 days after it becomes law, and its primary aim appears to be addressing the growing concern over xylazine's misuse as a dangerous drug in human contexts while preserving its legitimate veterinary applications.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4676