[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 10 (Friday, January 16, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S648-S649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SAVING KIDS FROM DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague, 
Senator Feinstein, in reintroducing the Saving Kids from Dangerous 
Drugs Act. I believe we have an ongoing moral obligation in this 
country to ensure our young people have every opportunity to grow up 
without being accosted by drug pushers at every turn, whether on TV, in 
the movies, or on the way to school.

[[Page S649]]

  This bipartisan legislation comes in response to the recent warnings 
issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, and the White 
House's Office of National Drug Control Policy about highly addictive 
and dangerous drugs being colored, packaged, and flavored in ways that 
appear to be designed to attract use by children. As cochairman of the 
Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, I can tell you that 
the most at-risk population for drug abuse is our young people. 
Research has shown time and again that if you can keep a child drug 
free until they turn 20, chances are very slim that they will ever try 
or become addicted to drugs. Unfortunately, unscrupulous drug dealers 
are all too aware of statistics like these and have developed new 
techniques and marketing gimmicks to lure in younger users. As a parent 
and now grandparent, this is extremely troubling.
  These drug dealers are flavoring drugs with additives to make them 
taste like candy. For instance, some drugs that have been recovered by 
the DEA and local law enforcement have been flavored to taste like 
strawberry and are known as ``Strawberry Quick.'' Other flavors, such 
as lemon, coconut, cinnamon and chocolate are clearly being used to 
make highly addictive drugs like meth and cocaine seem less harmful and 
more appealing. These flavored drugs are also being marketed in smaller 
amounts, making them cheaper and more accessible to children. According 
to an article in USA Today, at least eight States have reported 
instances involving candy flavored drugs, and many law enforcement 
officials are expecting these deadly substances to infiltrate their 
States in the near future.
  The DEA recently arrested three men in an undercover operation in 
California where candy flavored cocaine was being distributed. The DEA 
seized at least four different flavors of cocaine along with other 
dangerous substances. The estimated street value of the flavored 
cocaine seized in this operation was $272,400. The DEA also arrested 12 
people in connection to a marijuana-laced candy and soft drink 
operation in 2006. The marijuana-laced candy that was seized in this 
operation was packaged to look like well known brand name candy bars. 
These drug busts further illustrate the fact that drug dealers will 
stop at nothing to hook a new generation on these deadly substances.
  Currently, Federal law enhances the criminal penalties that apply 
when a person sells drugs to anyone under the age of 21. When this 
occurs, the Federal penalties are doubled--or tripled for a repeat 
offense--and a mandatory minimum of at least 1 year must also apply. 
However, this penalty applies only to someone who actually sells drugs 
to someone under 21.
  The Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act would expand the 
circumstances under which these enhanced penalties apply to cover the 
entire operation. Under our bill, the enhanced penalties that already 
exist would also apply to anyone who knowingly or intentionally 
manufactures, creates, distributes, dispenses or possesses with the 
intent to distribute a controlled substance that has been flavored, 
colored, packaged or otherwise altered in a way that is designed to 
make it more appealing to a person under 21 years of age. The DEA busts 
are prime examples of why we need this bipartisan bill to keep drug 
dealers from peddling their poison to our children. I am pleased that 
the National Narcotics Officers Association Coalition is strongly 
supporting this measure. This organization represents 69,000 law 
enforcement officers who encounter these terrible substances on a daily 
basis and work endlessly to keep our children and communities safe.
  The fight against deadly drugs is an ongoing struggle. We must do all 
we can to protect the most vulnerable among us. We must send a clear 
message to those wishing to prey on our youth that you risk serious 
prison time when you target our future.
  Although this bill was passed out of the Judiciary Committee 
unanimously last year, the Senate never passed the bill in the 110th 
Congress. I ask that my colleagues join us in support of this important 
legislation and pass the Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act.

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