AB 445

Under current law, a drug, or controlled substance, is classified in one of five

separate schedules. The classification is based on 1) whether there is a currently

accepted medical use for the drug; 2) the drug's potential for abuse; and 3) the nature

of the dependence that use of the drug may produce. Controlled substances that have

a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use are included in

Schedule I. Controlled substances that have an accepted medical use and that have

the lowest potential for abuse and produce the least dependence when compared with

other controlled substances are included in Schedule V. In general, a Schedule I

controlled substance may not be dispensed, even with a prescription. A Schedule II,

III, or IV controlled substance may be dispensed, but only with a prescription. Any

person who dispenses a Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substance without a

prescription is guilty of a felony, the level of which depends on the classification of

the controlled substance. Under this bill, a Schedule II or III controlled substance

may not be dispensed unless the person who is picking up the drug shows his or her

identification card. Acceptable forms of identification are a driver's license, a state

identification card, a U.S. uniformed service card, or a U.S. passport.

Current law requires the Pharmacy Examining Board (PEB) to establish a

program to monitor the dispensing of certain prescription drugs, including Schedule

II and III controlled substances and other drugs identified by the PEB as having a

high potential for abuse. The program requires pharmacists or persons who

prescribe prescription drugs to generate records documenting the dispensing of

prescription drugs. The bill requires a pharmacist or other person who dispenses a

Schedule II or III controlled substance to record the name on the identification card

of the person to whom the controlled substance is dispensed.