California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed strong disapproval on Wednesday regarding the decision to kill a bill that would restrict access to xylazine, a sedative increasingly found in street drugs. Newsom described the action as a “huge mistake” and hinted that his administration might intervene to ensure the measure’s eventual success. “I felt it a huge mistake that a member of the Legislature killed the tranq bill, the xylazine bill,” Newsom stated. “That was a big mistake. So I’m very active in that respect.”
In April 2023, the Biden administration officially declared xylazine-laced fentanyl an emerging drug threat to the nation, marking the first time such a label has been given. Rahul Gupta, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), expressed deep concern over the devastating impact of the fentanyl-xylazine combination, particularly among the youth across the nation. Gupta stated that xylazine poses the deadliest drug threat the United States has ever faced. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has reported widespread seizures of xylazine and fentanyl mixtures across most states. Data revealed that 23% of seized fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills were adulterated with xylazine.
While Newsom refrained from naming the lawmaker responsible, Assembly Public Safety Committee Chair Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, had recently held a bill that aimed to reschedule xylazine at the state level, thereby making it more difficult to obtain. In a statement, McCarty highlighted the committee’s aggressive stance on tackling drug trafficking and increasing penalties for illicit drug sales, noting that they had advanced more substantive drug bills this year than in over a decade.
The governor’s comments came during a press event in Sacramento County focused on heat wave and wildfire readiness. According to the California Department of Public Health, xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, is sometimes mixed with other substances like fentanyl by drug users. It can also be unknowingly ingested when cut into other drugs, increasing overdose risks and causing severe skin wounds and infections.
In 2023, the Department of Public Health labeled xylazine as a “new and emerging issue in California,” though it was not yet prevalent in the state’s drug supply. However, experts were concerned about its potential to become more common. The legislation Newsom likely referred to, Senate Bill 1502, was introduced by Sen. Angelique Ashby, D-Sacramento. This bill sought to classify xylazine as a Schedule III drug under California’s Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
Despite this, McCarty and his committee requested Ashby amend her bill to make xylazine a controlled substance only if the federal government took similar action first. Ashby refused, leading the committee to hold her bill. The Public Safety Committee’s decision came just before a policy committee deadline and the Legislature’s month-long recess. The rationale behind the requested changes was not clarified by McCarty or the committee members.
McCarty explained that the staff analysis for SB 1502 recommended aligning with the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, which does not currently list xylazine as a scheduled drug. Meanwhile, federal lawmakers in both the Senate and House are advocating for xylazine to be classified as a controlled substance. The future of SB 1502 remains uncertain, particularly since Assemblywoman Jasmeet Bains, D-Delano, faced similar stipulations for her related bill in April.
Bains’ bill, which included additional provisions beyond xylazine scheduling, was advanced by the committee with the requested changes. McCarty emphasized that this was done to maintain consistency with federal regulations. In contrast, Ashby’s SB 1502 focuses almost exclusively on xylazine scheduling. Newsom had previously called for xylazine legislation in November, underscoring its importance. His spokeswoman, Tara Gallegos, reinforced this stance, asserting the necessity of moving the measure forward.
Ashby, reflecting on the situation, expressed confusion over the committee’s demands. “The people of California care about doing something about the drug crisis in front of us,” she said. “I feel like they’ve been pretty fervent in their expectation that we do everything that we can to address these things that are going on with fentanyl. And tranq is a big piece of it.” The commitment to tackling the drug crisis, particularly with the rise of dangerous substances like xylazine, remains a contentious and urgent issue within California’s legislative landscape.
The declaration by the Biden administration highlights the critical nature of addressing the proliferation of xylazine in illicit drug markets, emphasizing the potential for severe public health consequences if left unchecked.
