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House moves GHB to Schedule I and lists ketamine as Schedule III
Summary
Lawmakers passed a substitute bill to add GHB to Schedule I and ketamine to Schedule III, citing law-enforcement concerns and limited medical uses; proponents noted detection challenges and reported local incidents tied to GHB.
The Utah House passed first substitute House Bill 77 to control two substances by placing GHB on Schedule I and ketamine on Schedule III.
Representative Ron Bigelow, the sponsor, told the House the measure addresses two substances that law enforcement and prosecutors want scheduled. "GHB is being placed as a schedule 1 drug, which is the most restrictive place we can put it," Bigelow said, adding that ketamine would be scheduled at a less restrictive level because it has some medical uses.
Members asked about related drugs and medical uses. Representative Curtis asked whether the bill addressed Rohypnol; Bigelow and others explained Rohypnol had been removed from the bill and retained in its prior schedule. Committee testimony and floor discussion noted that GHB metabolizes quickly, limiting detectability in blood and urine unless samples are taken soon after exposure.
Supporters, including Representative Cox and others who cited local incidents, argued the state has experienced deaths and emergency-room cases tied to GHB variants and said scheduling would allow law enforcement to act. Opponents in the committee raised concerns about possible therapeutic uses and sought expert input; the floor record shows the bill carried supporting letters from a University of Utah pharmacology expert to committee members.
The House approved the substitute bill, 70-0; the bill will be referred to the Senate.
