For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) “Controlled substance analog” has the same meaning as described in Section 11041.
(b) “Controlled substance checking” means the process of identifying, analyzing, or testing a substance, controlled or otherwise, or residue on drug paraphernalia or controlled substance packaging, to determine its chemical composition to assist in determining whether the substance contains contaminants, toxic substances, hazardous compounds, or other adulterants within a substance.
(c) “Controlled substance checking equipment” means equipment, products, technologies, or materials used, designed for use, or intended for use to perform chemical analysis of controlled substances or controlled substance analogs, including materials and items used by the person operating the equipment or products to store, measure, or process samples for analysis. Controlled substance checking equipment includes, but is not limited to, fentanyl test strips, other controlled substance or controlled substance analog immunoassay strips, colorimetric reagents, spectrometers such as Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectrometers, and equipment that uses high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, or nuclear magnetic resonance techniques.
(d) “Controlled substance checking service provider” means an eligible entity that provides the service of controlled substance checking. For purposes of this section, the following entities are eligible entities:
(1) An entity that provides syringe exchange services as defined in Section 121349.
(2) A research institution, college, or university.
(3) A community-based organization or nonprofit organization working in collaboration with public health departments, entities that provide syringe exchange services, or research institutions, colleges, and universities to reduce the potential harms associated with the use of controlled substances.
(e) “Controlled substance packaging” means the materials or items used by persons selling, buying, or ingesting controlled substances or controlled substance analogs to store, contain, cover, or transport small amounts of one or more controlled substances or controlled substance analogs.
(f) “Harm reduction” has the same meaning as described in subdivision (a) of Section 1954.08 of the Civil Code.
(g) “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, cooperative, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, government, political subdivision, or any other legal, commercial, or informal entity or group.
(Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 701, Sec. 2. (AB 2136) Effective January 1, 2025.)