Bill > S1037

This bill, concerning mental health and substance abuse, proposes to update the definition of cocaine within the state's General Laws, specifically Section 31 of Chapter 94C, which categorizes controlled substances. The changes aim to clarify what substances are considered Class B controlled substances by modifying subsection (a)(4). The bill inserts language that specifies "coca leaves, and the salts, optical and geometric isomers and salts of isomers, excluding coca leaves and extracts of coca leaves from which cocaine, ecgonine, and derivaties of ecgonine or their salts have been removed; of cocaine, ecgonine, pseudococaine, allococaine and pseudoallococaine, their derivatives, their salts, isomers and salts of their isomers; or any compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of any of the substances referred to in this paragraph." This means the law will now explicitly include various forms and derivatives of cocaine, as well as related compounds, while also clarifying exclusions for processed coca leaves where cocaine has been removed. The bill will become effective immediately upon its passage.