This bill proposes to classify medetomidine as a Schedule III controlled substance in South Dakota. It establishes specific exceptions for its use, allowing for the dispensing, prescribing, or administering of medetomidine to animals if it is approved by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services or falls under certain provisions of federal law. Additionally, the bill permits the manufacturing, distributing, or use of medetomidine as an active pharmaceutical ingredient for approved animal drugs or those with investigational use exemptions, as well as for pharmaceutical compounding by licensed pharmacists or veterinarians.

The new legal language introduced in this bill outlines the permissible uses of medetomidine while ensuring that it remains regulated as a controlled substance. The bill emphasizes compliance with federal regulations, specifically referencing sections of the U.S. Code that govern the approval and use of veterinary drugs. Overall, the legislation aims to balance the need for regulation of medetomidine with its legitimate medical applications in veterinary medicine.