NONPRESCRIPTION SYRINGE SALES THROUGH LICENSED PHARMACIES, SENATE BILL 41
California Department of Public Health
On October 9, 2011, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 41 (Yee, Chapter 738, Statutes of 2011) as part of statewide efforts to reduce the spread of HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne pathogens. The new law expands legal access to hypodermic needles and syringes in order to reduce the sharing of contaminated injection equipment. SB 41 removes restrictions on pharmacy practices to allow nonprescription sale of syringes (NPSS) through licensed pharmacies throughout the state, without requiring they register with a program or local government to authorize NPSS. Beginning January 1, 2012, physicians and pharmacists may furnish or sell up to 30 syringes without a prescription to adults 18 years of age or older for disease prevention purposes. SB 41 also allows adults anywhere in the state to purchase and possess up to 30 syringes for personal use when acquired from an authorized source. California code now specifies that pharmacists, physicians, and syringe exchange programs (SEPs) are all authorized sources of nonprescription syringes for disease prevention purposes.

California Department of Public Health
On October 9, 2011, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 41 (Yee, Chapter 738, Statutes of 2011) as part of statewide efforts to reduce the spread of HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne pathogens. The new law expands legal access to hypodermic needles and syringes in order to reduce the sharing of contaminated injection equipment. SB 41 removes restrictions on pharmacy practices to allow nonprescription sale of syringes (NPSS) through licensed pharmacies throughout the state, without requiring they register with a program or local government to authorize NPSS. Beginning January 1, 2012, physicians and pharmacists may furnish or sell up to 30 syringes without a prescription to adults 18 years of age or older for disease prevention purposes. SB 41 also allows adults anywhere in the state to purchase and possess up to 30 syringes for personal use when acquired from an authorized source. California code now specifies that pharmacists, physicians, and syringe exchange programs (SEPs) are all authorized sources of nonprescription syringes for disease prevention purposes.
