SB52 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Bussman

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine, State Board of Health required to classify as controlled substances, exemptions, removed from list of precursor chemicals maintained by State Board of Pharmacy, Secs. 20-2-20, 20-2-181 am'd.

Summary

SB52 would require classification of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine as Schedule III controlled substances and allow exemptions for reformulated products to prevent meth production, with authority to revoke those exemptions.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the three ingredients would be scheduled as Schedule III controlled substances, meaning they would generally require a prescription rather than being sold over the counter. The State Board of Health could exempt certain products containing these ingredients from scheduling if the product is effectively formulated to prevent conversion to methamphetamine, but the exemption could be revoked if the Department of Public Safety determines the product is not effective. If the federal government designates or reschedules any of these substances, Alabama would mirror that action after 30 days unless the Board objects and holds a hearing. The bill also clarifies precursor chemical controls by treating these ingredients as listed precursors and outlines the Board of Pharmacy's role in listing or delisting such precursors in the future.

Who It Affects

• Consumers and patients would generally need a prescription to obtain products containing these ingredients, reducing over-the-counter access.
• Manufacturers and retailers of products containing these ingredients could apply for exemptions if their products are effectively formulated to prevent meth production, with exemptions subject to revocation if findings indicate otherwise.
• State agencies and law enforcement (State Board of Health, Department of Public Safety, and Board of Pharmacy) would implement scheduling, exemption decisions, revocation processes, and precursor chemical listings.

Key Provisions

• Classify ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine as Schedule III controlled substances under Alabama law.
• Authorize exemptions for products containing these substances if the product is effectively formulated to prevent conversion to methamphetamine or its precursors; exemptions may be revoked upon notification by the Department of Public Safety that the product is not effectively formulated.
• If any of these substances are designated, rescheduled, or deleted as controlled substances under federal law, Alabama will similarly control the substance after 30 days unless the State Board of Health objects following a hearing.
• Until the Board of Pharmacy adopts a rule listing or delisting listed precursor chemicals, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine shall be deemed listed precursors; the Board may subsequently designate listed precursors or remove them following its rulemaking process.
• The bill preserves the Board of Health's criteria for scheduling decisions, requiring consideration of abuse potential, pharmacological effects, current knowledge, patterns of abuse, public health risk, dependence potential, and whether the substance is an immediate precursor to a controlled substance.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Controlled Substances