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Texas Running Out of Execution Drug

State officials said Thursday they are again running out of the lethal drug used to operate the nation’s busiest execution chamber.

State officials said Thursday they are again running out of the lethal drug used to operate the nation’s busiest execution chamber.


Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jason Clark said the state’s remaining supply of pentobarbital expires in September, and officials “are exploring all options” for an alternative.
 

Prison officials acknowledged last year that if the supply of pentobarbital ran out, they had explored switching to other drugs including propofol — the powerful anesthetic that contributed to pop star Michael Jackson’s death from cardiac arrest in 2009.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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