[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 55 (Thursday, April 14, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2520-S2521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. Grassley):
  S. 839. A bill to ban the sale of certain synthetic drugs; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague, 
Senator Klobuchar, in cosponsoring the Combating Designer Drugs Act of 
2011. All too often we are confronted with new and emerging drugs that 
spread quickly on the scene. However, what is most concerning about 
this new generation of drugs is how quickly these substances are sold 
and marketed to kids. Although these substances were created for 
scientific research they are now packaged as innocent products and sold 
on the shelves of local stores or via the internet.
  Recent reports in the media along with increasing calls to poison 
control centers and visits to emergency rooms reveals that more and 
more kids are using products laced with substances that are very 
dangerous. Although these products are currently legal and can be sold 
in stores and online, many people who use products are under a false 
impression that these products are safe because they are legal. 
However, use of these products is anything but safe.
  Last month, a teenager from Blaine, MN, died after overdosing on a 
substance called 2C-E that he and others used at a party. Police report 
10 other individuals were hospitalized after using this substance. 
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 2C-E along with its 
cousins in the 2C family are used for their hallucinogenic qualities. 
These drugs are marketed as similar to illegal drugs like LSD or 
Ecstasy and can be used in similar ways. A popular way to pass these 
drugs off as safe is by labeling them as ``fake,'' but clearly the 
victims of this drug have suffered very real consequences.
  Last month, I, along with Senator Feinstein, introduced legislation 
to ban the chemicals found in synthetic or ``fake'' marijuana. This 
legislation came in part from the death of Indianola, IA, resident 
David Rozga, who committed suicide shortly after smoking a package of 
K2, a product laced with synthetic marijuana compounds. Since then the 
Drug Enforcement Administration has identified more substances that are 
used in a similar way such as 2C-E and others. The Combating Designer 
Drugs Act of 2011 is part of the ongoing effort to identify drugs that 
are being marketed as legal, safe alternatives to illegal drugs and 
places them among their rightful place as dangerous drugs like meth and 
cocaine. Specifically, this legislation targets drugs found in the 2C 
family, which were invented for scientific research but never intended 
to be used for humans and makes them schedule I controlled substances.
  Mr. President, the sale and use of synthetic drugs like those in the 
2C family represent a new and dangerous trend in drug abuse. We must 
take strong action to eliminate the ease in which these substances can 
reach the market before their use gets out of hand. I urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation to remove these dangerous drugs 
from our society.

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