S 444

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
  SESSION 2025
 S  1
  SENATE BILL 444
 Short Title:   Controlled Substances Act - Updates.  (Public)
 Sponsors:      Senator Hanig (Primary Sponsor).
 Referred to:   Rules and Operations of the Senate
  March 25, 2025
1A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO UPDATE THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT.
3 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
4SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 90-89(1) reads as rewritten:
5"(1) Opiates. – Any of the following opiates or opioids, including the isomers,
6esters, ethers, salts and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers, unless specifically
7excepted, or listed in another schedule, whenever the existence of such
8isomers, esters, ethers, and salts is possible within the specific chemical
9designation:
10…
11sss.     AP-237.
12ttt.     2-methyl AP-237.
13uuu. (ortho, meta, or para)-methyl AP-237.
14vvv. AP-238.
15www. (ortho, meta, or para)-hydroxy 2-methyl AP-237.
16xxx. 2-Naphthyl U-47700.
17yyy. 1-Naphthyl U-47700.
18zzz. 4-(Trifluoromethyl) U-47700.
19aaaa. Methoxy U-47700.
20bbbb. Furanyl UF-17.
21cccc. Cyclopropyl U-47700.
22dddd. Phenyl U-47700.
23eeee. Ethyl U-47700.
24ffff. (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro-N,N-didesmethyl U-47700.
25gggg. (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro U-49900.
26hhhh. (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro-N-desmethyl U-47700.
27iiii.    4-fluoro U-47931E.
28jjjj.    (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro U-51754.
29kkkk. (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro Isopropyl U-47700.
30llll.    (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro Propyl U-47700.
31mmmm. (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro U-50488.
32nnnn. (2,3- or 3,4)-difluoro U-48800.
33oooo. (2,3- or 3,4 or 2,4)-difluoro U-47700.
34pppp. UF-17.
35qqqq. U-47109.
36rrrr. U-48520.
  *S444-v-1*
 General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
1ssss. N,N-didesmethyl U-47700.
2tttt.   U-62066.
3uuuu. Propyl U-47700.
4vvvv. (2,3- or 3,4)-Ethylenedioxy U-51754.
5wwww. 4-phenyl U-51754.
6xxxx. N-desmethyl U-47700.
7yyyy. (2,3- or 3,4)-Ethylenedioxy U-47700.
8zzzz. N-methyl U-47931E.
9aaaaa. (2,3- or 3,4)-Methylenedioxy U-47700.
10bbbbb. U-69593.
11ccccc. U-50488.
12ddddd. U-48753E.
13eeeee. U-47931E."
14SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 90-89(1a) reads as rewritten:
15"(1a) Fentanyl derivatives. – Unless specifically excepted, listed in another
16schedule, or contained within a pharmaceutical product approved by the
17United States Food and Drug Administration, any compound structurally
18derived from N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-N-phenylpropanamide
19(Fentanyl) by any substitution on or replacement of the phenethyl group, any
20substitution on the piperidine ring, any substitution on or replacement of the
21propanamide group, any substitution on the anilido phenyl group, or any
22combination of the above unless specifically excepted or listed in another
23schedule to include their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers. Fentanyl
24derivatives include, but are not limited to, the following:
25…
26f.
27N-(2-fluorophenyl)-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-propana
28mide (also known as 2-fluorofentanyl).(also known as
29ortho-fluorofentanyl).
30g.
31N-(3-fluorophenyl)-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-propana
32mide (also known as 3-fluorofentanyl).(also known as
33meta-fluorofentanyl).
34…
35i.
36N-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]
37-propanamide (also known as 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl,
384-FIBF).(also known as 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl).
39j.      N-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-butanamide
40(also known as 4-fluorobutyryl fentanyl, 4-FBF).(also known as
41para-fluorobutyryl fentanyl)."
42SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 90-89 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
43"(1b) Nitazene derivatives. – The N-substituted benzimidazole structural class,
44including any of the following derivatives, their salts, isomers, or salts of
45isomers unless specifically utilized as part of the manufacturing process by a
46commercial industry of a substance or material not intended for human
47ingestion or consumption, as a prescription administered under medical
48supervision, or for research at a recognized institution, whenever the existence
49of these salts, isomers, or salts of isomers is possible within the specific
50chemical designation or unless specifically excepted or listed in this or another
51schedule, structurally derived from benzimidazole by substitution at the
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 General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
11-position nitrogen with an ethylamine group, and by substitution at the
22-position carbon with a benzyl group, whether or not the compound is further
3modified in any of the following ways:
4a.       By monoalkyl or dialkyl substitution on the 1'-nitrogen of the
51-position ethylamine group, or by inclusion of the nitrogen in a cyclic
6structure.
7b.       By substitution on the 2'-methylene carbon of the benzyl group by
8alkyl or carboxamide groups.
9c.       By replacement of the 2'-methylene carbon group with an ethylbenzyl,
10thiophenol, or methoxybenzene group, which may be further
11substituted with alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, acetoxy, halide, or sulfide
12groups.
13d.       By substitution at the 2'-position, 3'-position, or 4'-position of the
14benzyl group, or both, with alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, acetoxy, halide,
15or sulfide groups.
16e.       By replacement of a phenyl hydrogen atom at either the 5-position or
176-position of the benzimidazole core with a nitro, or primary amine
18group."
19SECTION 1.(d) G.S. 90-89(3)mm. reads as rewritten:
20"mm. 5-methoxy-N-methyl-N-propyltryptamine
21(5-MeO-MiPT).5-methoxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine
22(5-MeO-MiPT)."
23SECTION 1.(e) G.S. 90-89(4) is amended by adding a new sub-subdivision to read:
24"j.      Bromazolam."
25SECTION 1.(f) G.S. 90-89(5)j. reads as rewritten:
26"j.      Substituted cathinones. A compound, other than bupropion, that is
27structurally derived from 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone by
28modification in any of the following ways: (i) by substitution in the
29phenyl ring to any extent with alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenedioxy, haloalkyl,
30or halide substituents, whether or not further substituted in the phenyl
31ring by one or more other univalent substituents; (ii) by substitution at
32the 3-position to any extent; or (iii) by substitution at the nitrogen atom
33with alkyl, dialkyl, benzyl, cycloalkyl, or methoxybenzyl groups or by
34inclusion of the nitrogen atom in a cyclic structure. For the purpose of
35this paragraph, the term "isomer" includes the optical, positional, or
36geometric isomer."
37SECTION 1.(g) G.S. 90-89(7) reads as rewritten:
38"(7) Synthetic cannabinoids. – Any quantity of any synthetic chemical compound
39that (i) is a cannabinoid receptor agonist and mimics the pharmacological
40effect of naturally occurring substances or (ii) has a stimulant, depressant, or
41hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that is not listed as a
42controlled substance in Schedules I through V, and is not an FDA-approved
43drug. Synthetic cannabinoids include, but are not limited to, the substances
44listed in sub-subdivisions a. through p. v. of this subdivision and any substance
45that contains any quantity of their salts, isomers (whether optical, positional,
46or geometric), homologues, and salts of isomers and homologues, unless
47specifically excepted, whenever the existence of these salts, isomers,
48homologues, and salts of isomers and homologues is possible within the
49specific chemical designation. The following substances are examples of
50synthetic cannabinoids and are not intended to be inclusive of the substances
51included in this Schedule:
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 General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
1…
2l.     Indole carboxamides. Any compound structurally derived from
31H-indole-3-carboxamide or 1H-indole-2-carboxamide substituted in
4one or both of the following ways:
51.     At the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl,
6cyanoalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl,
71-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl,
81-(N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl,
91-(N-methyl-3-morpholinyl)methyl, tetrahydropyranylmethyl,
10benzyl, or halo benzyl group; andor
112.     At the nitrogen of the carboxamide by a phenyl, benzyl,
12naphthyl, adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde
13group;group, or methyl 3,3-dimethyl-butanoate group;
14whether or not the compound is further modified to any extent
15in the following ways: (i) substitution to the indole ring to any
16extent, (ii) substitution to the phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl,
17adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group to any
18extent, (iii) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the indole ring, or
19(iv) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the phenyl, benzyl,
20naphthyl, adamantyl, or cyclopropyl ring. Substances in this
21class include, but are not limited to: SDB-001 and
22STS-135.STS-135 and MDMB-ICA.
23…
24n.     Indazole carboxaldehydes. Any compound structurally derived from
251H-indazole-3-carboxaldehyde or 1H-indazole-2-carboxaldehyde
26substituted in both of the following ways:
27…
282.      At the carbon of the carboxaldehyde by a phenyl, benzyl,
29naphthyl, adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group;
30whether or not the compound is further modified to any extent
31in the following ways: (i) substitution to the indazole ring to
32any extent, (ii) substitution to the phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl,
33adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group to any
34extent, (iii) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the indazole ring,
35or (iv) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the phenyl, benzyl,
36naphthyl, adamantyl, or cyclopropyl ring.
37o.     Indazole carboxamides. Any compound structurally derived from
381H-indazole-3-carboxamide  or      1H-indazole-2-carboxamide
39substituted in one or both of the following ways:
401.      At the nitrogen atom of the indazole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl,
41cyanoalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl,
421-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl,
431-(N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl,
441-(N-methyl-3-morpholinyl)methyl, tetrahydropyranylmethyl,
45benzyl, or halo benzyl group; andor
462.      At the nitrogen of the carboxamide by a phenyl, benzyl,
47naphthyl, adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde
48group;group, or methyl 3,3-dimethyl-butanoate group;
49whether or not the compound is further modified to any extent
50in the following ways: (i) substitution to the indazole ring to
51any extent, (ii) substitution to the phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl,
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 General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
1adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group to any
2extent, (iii) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the indazole ring,
3or (iv) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the phenyl, benzyl,
4naphthyl, adamantyl, or cyclopropyl ring. Substances in this
5class include, but are not limited to: AKB-48, fluoro-AKB-48,
6APINCACA,  AB-PINACA,  AB-FUBINACA,
7ADB-FUBINACA, and ADB-PINACA.ADB-PINACA,
8ADB-INACA, MDMB-INACA, MDMB-5Me-INACA, and
9MDMB-5Br-INACA.
10…
11s.      Oxindoles.      Any      compound      structurally      derived     from
123-hydrazonoindolin-2-one substituted in one or both of the following
13ways:
141.      At the nitrogen atom of the oxoindole ring by an alkyl,
15haloalkyl,      cyanoalkyl,      alkenyl,      cycloalkylmethyl,
16cycloalkylethyl; or
172.      At the nitrogen of the hydrazide by a phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl,
18adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group; whether or
19not the compound is further modified to any extent in the
20following ways: (i) substitution to the oxoindole ring to any
21extent or (ii) substitution to the phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl,
22adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group to any
23extent. Substances in this class include, but are not limited to:
24BZO-POXIZID, BZO-HEXOXIZIDE, 5F-BZO-POXIZIDE.
25t.      Indole acetamides. Any compound structurally derived from
261H-indole-3-acetamide or 1H-indole-2-acetamide substituted in one or
27both of the following ways:
281.      At the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl,
29cyanoalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl,
301-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl,
311-(N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl,
321-(N-methyl-3-morpholinyl)methyl, tetrahydropyranylmethyl,
33benzyl, or halo benzyl group; or
342.      At the nitrogen of the acetamide by a phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl,
35adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group; whether or
36not the compound is further modified to any extent in the
37following ways: (i) substitution to the indole ring to any extent,
38(ii) substitution to the phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, adamantyl,
39cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group to any extent, (iii) a
40nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the indole ring, or (iv) a
41nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl,
42adamantyl, or cyclopropyl ring. Substances in this class
43include, but are not limited to: AFUBIATA, CH-PIATA,
44AB-CHMIATA, ADB-FUBIATA.
45u.      Indazole acetaldehydes. Any compound structurally derived from
461H-indazol-3-ylacetaldehyde  or     1H-indazol-2-ylacetaldehyde
47substituted in one or both of the following ways:
481.      At the nitrogen atom of the indazole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl,
49cyanoalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl,
501-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl,
511-(N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl,
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 General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
11-(N-methyl-3-morpholinyl)methyl, tetrahydropyranylmethyl,
2benzyl, or halo benzyl group; or
32.      At the nitrogen of the carboxamide by a phenyl, benzyl,
4naphthyl, adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group;
5whether or not the compound is further modified to any extent
6in the following ways: (i) substitution to the indazole ring to
7any extent, (ii) substitution to the phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl,
8adamantyl, cyclopropyl, or propionaldehyde group to any
9extent, (iii) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the indazole ring,
10or (iv) a nitrogen heterocyclic analog of the phenyl, benzyl,
11naphthyl, adamantyl, or cyclopropyl ring. Substances in this
12class include, but are not limited to: ADB-BUTINAATA,
13ADB-FUBINAATA.
14v.     Pyrazoles. Any compound structurally derived from 1H-pyrazole
15substituted in all of the following ways:
161.      At the 1 position of the pyrazole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, or
17alkenyl group.
182.      At the 3 position of the pyrazole ring by a halo benzyl or
19propionaldehyde group.
203.      At the 5 position of the pyrazole ring by a halo benzyl or
21propionaldehyde group; whether or not the compound is
22further modified by a substitution to the propionaldehyde
23group to any extent. Substances in this class include, but are
24not  limited        to:       3,5-ADB-4en-PFUPPYCA,
255-fluoro-3,5-AB-PFUPPYCA."
26SECTION 1.(h) G.S. 90-90(2)h1. reads as rewritten:
27"h1. Fentanyl  immediate  precursor  chemical,
284-anilino-N-phenethyl-4-piperidine
29(ANPP).4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperdine (ANPP)."
30SECTION 1.(i) G.S. 90-91(k)11. reads as rewritten:
31"11. Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone,Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone,"
32SECTION 1.(j) G.S. 90-91(k)16. reads as rewritten:
33"16. Mesterolene,Mesterolone,"
34SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law.
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