Supervisor Dorsey introduces ordinance to require retail pharmacies to stock buprenorphine, citing DPH survey showing limited local availability

Supervisor Dorsey introduced legislation on May 14 that would require all retail pharmacies in San Francisco to maintain a stock of buprenorphine, a medication used in treatment for opioid use disorder that reduces withdrawal, cravings and overdose risk.

Why it matters: Supporters said easier, rapid access to buprenorphine can save lives and expand medically assisted treatment without the delays that sometimes drive people back to illicit, potentially lethal substances. The supervisor framed the measure as a local step to increase access after federal changes broadened authorized prescribers but did not fully resolve pharmacy stocking barriers.

Supervisor Dorsey’s presentation

Dorsey described findings from the Department of Public Health’s Office of Overdose Prevention, which surveyed retail pharmacies in January. DPH reported 37 of 84 responding pharmacies (about 44%) were able to fill a one‑day prescription for a two‑week supply of buprenorphine at the time of the survey, and among the 47 pharmacies that did not have the medication in stock, only 17 (36%) said they could fill a prescription within one business day. Dorsey said national literature and a New England Journal of Medicine analysis show that expanding prescriber authorization alone has not produced widespread increases in patients filling buprenorphine prescriptions.

Proposed policy and rationale

The introduced ordinance would require retail pharmacies in the city to stock buprenorphine to reduce delays for people seeking medication‑assisted treatment. Dorsey said the policy is designed to reduce barriers that exist even when prescribers are authorized, and to put a reliable supply of the medication within reach for people who choose treatment. He described the measure as part of a broader strategy to support long‑term recovery in the city.

Next steps and context

Dorsey cited co‑sponsors including Supervisors Rafael Mandelman, Hillary Ronan and Dean Preston and said he hoped other supervisors would sign on. He framed the approach as the nation’s first local stocking requirement of this kind. The board did not take a vote on the introduced legislation at the meeting; the item was introduced for consideration in committee.