On January 31, 2000, HR 2130, a bill to make gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) the latest edition to the federal list of Schedule I controlled substances (but place FDA-approved "medical" GHB-products in Schedule III), passed the House of Representatives, and currently awaits the President's signature.

In addition to directing the emergency scheduling of GHB, the law also:

• Adds gamma butyrolactone to the List 1 Chemicals (precursors).
   
• Instructs the Operations Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration to form "a special unit which shall assess the abuse of and trafficking in gamma hydroxybutyric acid, flunitrazepam, ketamine, other controlled substances, and other so-called `designer drugs' whose use has been associated with sexual assault."
   
• Instructs the Attorney General to conduct a "national awareness campaign" on GHB's use as a so-called "date rape drug."

Read Full Text of HR 2130

Read PRNewswire press release by Orphan Medical, a pharmaceutical company seeking to capitalize on GHB as a narcolepsy and cataplexy drug.

Read November 19, 1999 Senate discussion of bill. (Includes some discussion of accepted medical use of GHB.)

Back to GHB Law and Policy page