AB 837: Ketamine.
This bill amends the Health and Safety Code to change the classification of ketamine from a Schedule III controlled substance to a Schedule I controlled substance. As a result, the penalties for transporting, importing, selling, and giving away ketamine would increase to a maximum of 5 years in county jail. The bill also creates a new crime for transporting, importing, furnishing, administering, or giving away ketamine, with penalties of up to 5 years in county jail. No reimbursement is required for this act.
| Feb. 02, 2026 | From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Jan. 31, 2026 | Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. |
| May. 23, 2025 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Apr. 09, 2025 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Mar. 28, 2025 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Amended IN Assembly March 27, 2025 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Davies |
February 19, 2025 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
This bill would add ketamine to the list of substances for which it is a crime to transport, import, sell, furnish, administer, or give away. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this 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.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 11379.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:11379.2.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Article 7 (commencing with SectionSEC. 2.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.(a)Except as otherwise provided in this division, a person who transports, imports into this state, sells, furnishes, administers, or gives away, or offers to transport, import into this state, sell, furnish, administer, or give away, or attempts to import into this state or transport (1) a controlled substance specified in subdivision (b), (c), or (e) of, or paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of, Section 11054, specified in paragraph (14), (15), or (20) of subdivision (d) of Section 11054, or specified in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 11055, or specified in subdivision (g) or (h) of Section 11056, or (2) a controlled substance classified in Schedule III, IV, or V that is a narcotic drug, unless upon the written prescription of a physician, dentist, podiatrist, or veterinarian licensed to practice in this state, shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for three, four, or five years.
(b)Notwithstanding the penalty provisions of subdivision (a), a person who transports a controlled substances specified in subdivision (a) within this state from one county to another noncontiguous county shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for three, six, or nine years.
(c)For purposes of this section, “transports” means to transport for sale.
(d)This section does not preclude or limit the prosecution of an individual for aiding and abetting the commission of, or conspiring to commit, or acting as an accessory to, an act prohibited by this section.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.