HB2 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Holmes

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Wes Allen

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Controlled substances, relating to Schedule II, adding certain named chemical compounds of Tianeptine, Sec. 20-2-25 am'd.

Summary

HB2 expands Alabama’s drug control by adding tianeptine and phenibut to Schedule II and broadening Schedule I to include many synthetic substances and analogues.

What This Bill Does

It places tianeptine and phenibut (and their salts) in Schedule II, making their manufacture, distribution, and possession subject to stricter state controls. It also adds a large number of substances, including various opiates, hallucinogens, and synthetic drugs, to Schedule I. The bill defines synthetic controlled substance analogues and establishes criteria to quickly classify new substances as analogues. It requires the Department of Forensic Sciences to notify the Department of Public Health when a substance is determined to be an analogue. The act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage, and it notes an exemption from certain local funding requirements because it creates or amends a crime.

Who It Affects

• Residents and visitors who possess or use tianeptine, phenibut, and other scheduled substances would be subject to criminal penalties and regulatory controls.
• Drug manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and law enforcement/public health agencies would face expanded scheduling, reporting, and enforcement duties due to the broader schedules and the defined analogue framework.

Key Provisions

• Adds tianeptine and any salt, sulfate, free acid, or other preparation of tianeptine to Schedule II, including derivatives and substantially chemically equivalent forms.
• Adds phenibut and any salt, sulfate, free acid, or other preparation of phenibut to Schedule II, including derivatives and substantially chemically equivalent forms.
• Expands Schedule I to include numerous opiates, opium derivatives, hallucinogenic substances, and a wide range of synthetic controlled substances and their analogues, with detailed criteria for what constitutes an analogue.
• Defines 'synthetic controlled substance analogue' and sets criteria based on chemical structure, effects, receptor binding, or similarity to Schedule I or II substances.
• After the Department of Forensic Sciences classifies a substance as a synthetic analogue, it must notify the Department of Public Health with scheduling-relevant information.
• Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.
• Fiscal note: the bill states it is excluded from Amendment 621 local funding requirements because it creates or amends a crime, rather than implementing a new local expenditure.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Controlled Substances