Lawmakers in California are considering a bill — Assembly Bill 1990 — that would effectively BAN compounded GLP-1s, even during drug shortages or when a prescriber judges a patient needs a customized medication. 

This bill claims to target counterfeit drugs, illicit online sellers, and unlicensed operators, but in practice, AB 1990 targets licensed, compliant pharmacies already subject to FDA oversight, USP standards, and the California Board of Pharmacy’s rigorous compounding regulations.

Counterfeiting is a crime. Compounding is healthcare. They are not the same.

The healthcare system is built for standardized care, not for every real-world need. 

Compounding exists because patients' health needs are not one-size-fits-all.
 
Patients rely on compounded medications when:

• A drug is in shortage or unavailable
• A child needs a liquid or non-standard dose
• A patient can’t tolerate fillers or dyes in commercial products
• Standard therapies fail, including for menopause, thyroid conditions, dermatology, and other chronic needs

When compounding is restricted, patients are not redirected to safer alternatives. In many cases, there are no alternatives.

AB 1990 goes too far. The bill would:

• Restrict patient access to medically necessary therapies

• Impose requirements that conflict with federal law

• Apply manufacturing-style burdens to pharmacies that Congress intentionally excluded from pharmacy compounding

• Impose excessive penalties on small healthcare providers

• Raise costs for patients and state healthcare programs

California patients need targeted enforcement — not broad restrictions on lawful, patient-specific care. 

Lawmakers should oppose AB1990 and focus on enforcing existing laws against illegal drug sales, while preserving access to lawful, patient-specific pharmacy compounding.