By Crystal Frost, PhD

The January 8 California Board of Pharmacy (BOP) meeting at 9:00 a.m. will be pivotal.

This is the final opportunity to defend life-changing Category 1 sterile compounds such as NAD+, methylcobalamin (B12), alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), and glutathione.

These treatments are under threat of severe restrictions that could limit or eliminate patient access. It’s crucial for all supporters of alternative and integrative medicine to attend, speak out, and help Stop The BOP protect these vital treatments before the Board’s Sunset Review process begins.

This meeting is our last chance to convince the Board not to push forward regulations that are widely opposed by patients, doctors, and advocacy groups.

What happens if the BOP pushes these regulations through anyway despite unanimous public opposition?

If the Board ignores public outcry and advances these restrictions, there is still one more important step before the regulations become law. This step involves review by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL). At that stage, we’ll need to provide the OAL with evidence of the Board’s disregard for public input and the detrimental impact these regulations would have on patient care.

In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the Board only has 12 months to finalize regulations after issuing their Notice of Proposed Action (NOPA) – otherwise the proposed rules must be scrapped.

In this case, that deadline is April 19, 2025. Between now and April 19, it is vital that we continue to inform the OAL, Legislature, and the Board of the harm that will come from these regulations.

What happens if the Board members respect the public and do NOT vote to push the regulations forward?

If we succeed in halting the regulations during the meeting, the matter will likely move to the legislative Sunset Review process. Sunset Review occurs every few years to evaluate whether a regulatory board, like the Board of Pharmacy, is fulfilling its duties appropriately. This will give us an opportunity to spotlight the Board’s ongoing overreach and violations of patient rights.

A separate but related issue: Protecting Infusion Centers from BOP overreach

Separate from the sterile compounds debate, the Board of Pharmacy has signaled its intent to regulate hydration and infusion centers, which also administer Category 1 sterile compounds. These centers fall under the jurisdiction of the Medical Board of California. Every infusion center operates under the supervision of at least one licensed physician, making this an overreach by the Board of Pharmacy.

While this topic isn’t on the January 8 agenda, it IS on the Board’s agenda for Sunset Review. This should serve as a reminder of the Board’s broader mission to restrict patient access to vital treatments, and we must remain vigilant and prepared to address this issue during Sunset Review as well.

How You Can Take Action

We need your help to protect access to sterile compounds and ensure the Board of Pharmacy doesn’t overstep its bounds. Here’s what you can do:

1. Attend and speak at the January 8 Meeting via WebEx
Log in at 9:00 a.m. and raise your hand during agenda item three to voice your opposition to the proposed regulations. You will have two minutes to speak, and you will not be on video. Visit stopthebop.com/actnow for access links, public comment prompts, and more.

2. Sign and Share the Petition
Help us demonstrate our numbers by adding your name to our petition: petition.stopthebop.com

3. Donate to the Cause
Your contributions help fund our advocacy efforts: stopthebop.com/donate

4. Spread the Word
Share this blog post and our action page with friends, family, and anyone who values patient rights and access to natural, compounded, and alternative medicine.

5. Follow us on Instagram (instagram.com/stop.thebop) and our brand new Bluesky account (https://bsky.app/profile/stopthebop.com)

Why Your Voice Matters

Every comment, signature, and dollar makes a difference. The Board of Pharmacy must understand that patients, caregivers, and advocates will not stand by while they impose harmful restrictions. Together, we can ensure that alternative and integrative medicine remains accessible to those who need it most.

Let’s make our voices heard on January 8. Thank you for standing with us in this fight.

Chronic Lyme patient Crystal Frost launched the StopTheBOP movement last year. She can be reached via the StopTheBOP website.

See also:

Fighting to save our lifeline of glutathione, B12, and more

Please don’t take away these life-changing medications

What is glutathione and why must we protect patient access to it?