AB 1785: California Uniform Controlled Substances Act: online retailer.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

The California Uniform Controlled Substances Act (act), among other things, requires a retail distributor to comply with specific requirements for the sale of certain types of controlled substances, including, among other requirements, not selling in a single transaction more than 3 packages of a product that is known to contain ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine. A violation of these requirements by a retail distributor is a crime.

The act defines a “retail distributor,” for its purposes, as a grocery store, general merchandise store, drugstore, or other related entity, the activities of which, as a distributor of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine products, are limited exclusively to the sale of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine products for personal use both in number of sales and volume of sales, either directly to walk-in customers or in face-to-face transactions by direct sales.

This bill would include an online retailer, as specified, within the definition of a retail distributor. By expanding the types of entities that are subject to the requirements imposed on retail distributors under the act, the violation of which is a crime, this bill would expand the scope of a crime, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 13, 2026In committee: Held under submission.
2. June 22, 2026In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
3. June 8, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. May 13, 2026Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
5. May 5, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
6. May 4, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 4916.)
7. April 23, 2026Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
8. April 22, 2026From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 22).
9. April 7, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 19. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
10. March 2, 2026Referred to Com. on B. & P.
11. February 10, 2026From printer. May be heard in committee March 12.
12. February 9, 2026Read first time. To print.