Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (PA-15) to ban the sale of various synthetic drugs passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 8.
On March 30, 2011, Rep. Dent introduced H.R. 1254, the Synthetic Drug Control Act. The bill identifies chemical compounds that affect the brain in a manner similar to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and adds them to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule I bans drugs and controlled substances that have high potential for abuse and have no use in medical treatment in the United States.
The bill also bans chemical compounds used in synthetic drugs commonly sold as ‘bath salts’ or ‘plant food’, which have been identified as cocaine substitutes.
Additionally, H.R. 1254 enhances the authority of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to temporarily ban drugs in the interest of public safety and provides greater time for the agency to prove a chemical is harmful, lacks medicinal or industrial value, and should be banned permanently.
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