Relating To The Uniform Controlled Substance Act.
SB1452 updates Hawaii’s controlled substances schedules in chapter 329, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to align state law with recent changes in the federal Controlled Substances Act. The bill revises Schedule I, II, and IV listings by adding, deleting, or renumbering numerous substances, including many fentanyl analogs, nitazenes, synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones, hallucinogens, sedatives, and other emerging drugs. It also updates the list of immediate precursors, including fentanyl precursors such as ANPP and norfentanyl, and makes conforming technical changes throughout the schedules.
The measure is primarily a conformity bill rather than a policy overhaul. Its practical effect is to keep Hawaii’s drug scheduling current with federal law so that substances newly controlled at the federal level are also controlled under state law, which affects criminal enforcement, prosecution, and regulatory treatment of those substances. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
The bill amends sections 329-14, 329-16, and 329-20 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, expanding and updating the controlled substances schedules and precursor provisions. It adds many newly identified synthetic opioids and psychoactive substances, revises Schedule IV to include additional depressants and stimulants, and updates the fentanyl precursor list. The changes affect law enforcement, prosecutors, regulated entities, healthcare and forensic professionals, and anyone handling substances newly brought under state control.
The available voting history shows broad, unanimous support at each stage, with committee and conference votes passing 4-0 or 3-0. That pattern suggests the bill was viewed as a routine and noncontroversial update needed to maintain consistency with federal controlled substance classifications. No committee transcripts were provided indicating opposition or significant debate.
There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record. The main issue is the breadth and technical complexity of the scheduling updates, which sweep in many specific compounds and entire classes of analogs, but the bill’s stated purpose is conformity with federal law under section 329-11, HRS. Any concern would likely center on the expansion of criminally controlled substances and the pace at which new synthetic drugs are added, rather than on the bill’s overall objective.