Call Today! Free Immediate Response (818) 781-1570

Blog

Is Xylazine Legal in California?

Posted by Dmitry Gorin | Jan 21, 2025

Xylazine, commonly referred to by its street name "tranq," has gained troubling notoriety in recent years as it increasingly appears on the streets.

Frequently found mixed with other potent drugs like fentanyl, this substance amplifies the risk of overdose and poses significant challenges for public health and safety. With its growing presence, lawmakers and authorities are taking a closer look at Xylazine, its effects, and its legal status in California.

Xylazine
Xylazine is not approved for human use because of concerns over serious health risks.

Xylazine is not approved or intended for human use either alone or in combination with other drugs of abuse, such as illicit fentanyl. Human use of xylazine can pose serious health risks.

California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing new legislation to increase criminal penalties for illicit uses of Xylazine. This is a crucial step to curb the rising number of overdose deaths seen across the nation linked to the drug.

As part of the state's plan to address the opioid and overdose epidemic, the new legislation will increase penalties for the illicit trafficking of the drug Xylazine, also known as "tranq."

Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer with no approved human use. and is increasingly being found in the illicit drug supply and has been linked to rising overdose deaths across the country.

The legislation would make Xylazine a controlled substance but exempt legitimate veterinary use, making illicit trafficking of Xylazine subject to increased criminal penalties while maintaining veterinarians' access to the drug for approved use in animals.

The legislation will help the state stay ahead and curb dealers and traffickers while providing treatment and resources for those struggling with addiction and substance abuse.

Xylazine-related deaths are increasing drastically in every part of the United States. The proposed legislation also includes provisions to educate and support healthcare professionals in identifying and treating Xylazine-related cases, thereby enhancing public health and safety.

Xylazine can cause severe wounds and necrosis and can lead to amputation. Xylazine alone is not an opioid, but it is often mixed with fentanyl. When a Xylazine overdose is suspected, health experts recommend administering the opioid reversal agent naloxone.

What Is Xylazine?

Xylazine is a veterinary sedative primarily used to tranquilize large animals such as horses, cattle, and deer. It is neither approved nor intended for human use. Despite this, Xylazine has found its way into the illicit drug market, where it is often used to enhance the effects of other substances.

When used as intended in veterinary medicine, Xylazine acts as a central nervous system depressant. It slows down bodily functions, including heart rate and breathing, sedating animals during medical procedures. However, these effects pose severe risks when the drug is consumed by humans, especially in unregulated doses.

What are the Effects and Potential Dangers of Xylazine?

When consumed by humans, Xylazine induces a potent sedative effect. Users often report the following:

  • Extreme drowsiness,
  • Reduced coordination,
  • Feelings of dissociation.

However, its effects go beyond sedation. Xylazine can severely depress the heart rate and respiratory functions, leading to critical consequences, including:

  • Organ failure,
  • Hypothermia,
  • Death.

It's crucial to raise public awareness about the dangers of Xylazine. Many people purchasing drugs on the street are unaware that their purchase may be laced with Xylazine. This lack of awareness further underscores the need for education and prevention.

One of the most alarming aspects of Xylazine's harm is its resistance to naloxone, a medication commonly used to reverse opioid overdoses.

Since Xylazine is not an opioid, naloxone cannot counteract its effects even when it is mixed with an opioid such as fentanyl. This makes overdoses involving Xylazine particularly dangerous, often requiring medical intervention beyond what first responders typically provide.

Chronic users may experience disturbing side effects associated with the drug-severe skin ulcers, and necrotic tissue, which can result in permanent disfigurement.

Known colloquially as the "zombie drug," Xylazine's tendency to cause flesh deterioration further underscores its public health threat.

What is the Current Legal Status of Xylazine in California?

At present, Xylazine is not a scheduled controlled substance under California or federal law. This means it is not classified under the state's strict schedules regulating drugs based on their potential for abuse, harm, and medical use.

Current Legal Status of Xylazine in California

Despite its dangerous presence in the illegal drug market, Xylazine's status as a veterinary-approved medication currently exempts it from outright prohibition for recognized animal health purposes.

This legal gray area makes Xylazine not technically "illegal" for non-human use, though its sale and possession without proper veterinary authorization could still violate other laws.

Furthermore, its growing role in illicit drug mixtures has spurred increasing concern among lawmakers and law enforcement agencies.

The California Department of Public Health has sent a letter to all facilities notifying them and clinicians of the emergence of xylazine in the U.S. illicit drug supply and what actions clinicians should take to keep patients safe.

The California State Board of Pharmacy and the California Veterinary Medical Board have issued alerts and reminders to licensees that xylazine is subject to dangerous drug laws. The alerts highlight that licensees must keep records of dangerous drugs for at least three years.

California's SB 1502 and Potential Legal Changes

Recognizing the dangers posed by Xylazine, the California legislature is currently considering a bill, SB 1502, that could alter its legal status. If passed, this bill would classify Xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance, acknowledging its medical or veterinary use but restricting its access due to its potential for abuse and harm.

This classification would specifically criminalize the unauthorized sale, possession, and distribution of Xylazine within California. The bill also includes provisions to ensure veterinarians can continue accessing Xylazine for legitimate purposes, maintaining its availability for animal treatment while cracking down on its misuse in human drug markets.

Key provisions in SB 1502 also address the drug's dual role in veterinary medicine and illicit drug markets. The bill includes safeguards to ensure veterinarians can continue accessing Xylazine for legitimate purposes, maintaining its availability for animal treatment while cracking down on its misuse in human drug markets.

What are the Legal Implications?

While Xylazine may not yet be a controlled substance, its frequent appearance in mixtures with other illicit drugs complicates its legal and health implications. Most notably, Xylazine is commonly combined with fentanyl, an opioid responsible for surging overdose rates across the country.

The addition of Xylazine amplifies fentanyl's effects while also increasing its risks, as users may unknowingly consume the sedative in dangerous concentrations. From a legal perspective, individuals found in possession of Xylazine combined with controlled substances like fentanyl may still face serious drug charges.

Law enforcement often focuses on the presence of the more regulated drug in these mixtures, leaving room for prosecution despite Xylazine's undefined status. Furthermore, the manufacture or distribution of drug cocktails containing Xylazine could still be prosecuted under existing drug trafficking laws.

For additional information, contact our California criminal defense lawyers, Eisner Gorin LLP, based in Los Angeles, CA.

Related Content:

About the Author

Dmitry Gorin

Dmitry Gorin is a State-Bar Certified Criminal Law Specialist, who has been involved in criminal trial work and pretrial litigation since 1994. Before becoming partner in Eisner Gorin LLP, Mr. Gorin was a Senior Deputy District Attorney in Los Angeles Courts for more than ten years. As a criminal tri...

We speak English, Russian, Armenian, and Spanish.

Attorney Dmitry Gorin If you have one phone call from jail, call us! If you are facing criminal charges, DON'T talk to the police first. TALK TO US!

CALL TOLL-FREE
(818) 781-1570
Anytime 24/7

Menu