HB 464 - Synthetic Opioid and Other Dangerous Drug Control Act

• Expands Schedule I controlled substances to include synthetic fentanyls (such as furanyl fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl, and acrylfentanyl), synthetic cannabinoids, and designer hallucinogens including NBOMe compounds and novel fentanyl analogs.

• Adds system depressants (etizolam, flubromazepam, phenazepam) to Schedule I and moves buprenorphine from Schedule IV to Schedule III.

• Establishes a 22-member Task Force on Sentencing Reforms for Opioid Drug Convictions to study reducing sentences for opioid drug offenses and recommend legislative changes by 2019.

• Expands second-degree murder charges to include deaths proximately caused by unlawful distribution of depressants, in addition to existing opioid and cocaine provisions.

• Removes synthetic cannabinoid quantity thresholds from criminal penalties for marijuana possession, treating synthetic cannabinoids as Schedule I substances subject to stricter enforcement.