HB480 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Allen Farley

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Randy WoodMack N. ButlerMargie WilcoxEd HenryJohn MerrillDarrio MeltonElaine BeechDuwayne BridgesJohn W. RogersBarry MoorePaul BeckmanAlan BakerPebblin W. WarrenLesley VanceDan WilliamsAlan HarperRichard BaughnRod ScottMike BallMary Sue McClurkinLynn GreerApril WeaverDavid StandridgeDexter GrimsleyNapoleon BracyK.L. BrownMike HolmesMike MillicanWilliam RobertsMike HillSteve McMillanRichard J. LairdVictor GastonOliver RobinsonJim PattersonJamie IsonMerika ColemanDavid SessionsBecky NordgrenKurt WallaceWayne JohnsonHoward SanderfordKen JohnsonAllen TreadawayTerri CollinsMicky HammonMac ButtramDimitri PolizosDavid ColstonDickie DrakeChris EnglandJoe Faust

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Controlled substances, Schedule I, additional synthetic controlled substances and analogue substances included in, trafficking in controlled substance analogues, requisite weight increased, Secs. 13A-12-231, 20-2-23 am'd.

Summary

HB480 would raise the trafficking threshold for controlled substance analogues to 56 grams and add many synthetic substances to Schedule I, expanding penalties for drug trafficking in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

It increases the mandatory trafficking threshold for analogue substances from 28 grams to 56 grams. It adds numerous synthetic substances and analogues to Schedule I, making possession, distribution, and trafficking of these substances illegal under the same penalties as other Schedule I drugs. It establishes escalating mandatory minimum sentences for trafficking a wide range of drugs (including cannabis, cocaine, illegal drugs, and various synthetic and traditional opioids and stimulants) based on quantity, potentially up to life imprisonment, and it includes a firearm enhancement that increases penalties if a gun is involved. The bill also creates detailed provisions about scheduling synthetic analogs and notes the local funding implications, though it cites exceptions to local expenditure requirements, and it takes effect immediately after the Governor signs it.

Who It Affects

• Drug offenders and traffickers would face higher penalties and longer prison terms for trafficking analogue substances and newly listed Schedule I drugs based on the amount involved.
• Law enforcement, prosecutors, and state agencies (including the Department of Forensic Sciences and the Department of Public Health) would implement and enforce the expanded scheduling, new trafficking thresholds, and enhanced penalties, with potential local funding implications.

Key Provisions

• Raises the requisite weight for trafficking in controlled substance analogues from 28 grams to 56 grams.
• Adds additional synthetic controlled substances and analogues to Schedule I, expanding the list of illegal substances.
• Imposes escalating mandatory minimum sentences and fines for trafficking various drugs (cannabis, cocaine, illegal drugs, morphine/heroin derivatives, methaqualone, hydromorphone, amphetamine, methamphetamine, PCP, and numerous synthetic analogs) based on quantity, up to life imprisonment for the largest amounts.
• Adds a five-year prison term and a $25,000 fine if a firearm is possessed during the commission of these offenses, with the sentence not subject to suspension or probation.
• Creates and defines trafficking in synthetic controlled substance analogs with criteria for classifying these substances and requires scheduling and notification processes between state agencies.
• Designates the act as Landon’s Law and enumerates Schedule I substances with extensive lists of chemical compounds and their analogues.
• Notes potential local fund expenditure impacts under Amendment 621 but states the bill falls within exceptions and does not require local approval for implementation.
• Effective immediately upon the Governor’s signature.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Controlled Substances