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| Date: | May 20, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Susan Closmore | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-5712 | | Contact Email: | susan.closmore@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| SENATE PASSES OMNIBUS DRUG BILL, INCLUDING SENATOR NELSON’S SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA PROVISIONS |
St. Paul- The Minnesota State Senate passed an omnibus bill on controlled substances Thursday that included measures sponsored by Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester). House File 57 contains provisions that address the growing danger of designer drugs and analogs, which are drugs substantially similar in effect or chemical makeup to controlled substances. Specifically, it makes it illegal to possess synthetic cannabinoids, known as "synthetic marijuana," "K2," or "SPICE,"and Mephedrone , known as “bath salts,” or “plant food” and adds 2C-E, 2C-I, and analogs to the Schedule I list of controlled substances.
Senator Nelson’s Senate File 537, which was included in the omnibus drug package, expands the definition of marijuana to include synthetic marijuana. Senator Nelson gave the following statement regarding the bill’s passage.
“Designer drugs, like synthetic marijuana, are created and modified by users to skirt the law and represent one of the most significant dangers in the war on drugs. I first heard about the devastating effects of K2 last year when a teen named David Rozga from my hometown took his own life while high on the drug. K2, or Spice as its commonly known, has similar if not worse effects than the drug it is trying to imitate,” said Senator Nelson.
“I want to thank the Senate Judiciary & Public Safety Committee for compiling the entire omnibus drug package and for including my provision. Together, these bills give law enforcement and prosecutors the support they need to keep these drugs off store shelves and off the street,” added Senator Nelson.
An additional provision in the bill deals with "bong water," and would specify in current law that the weight of fluid used in a water pipe for marijuana cannot be considered as part of the total possession weight unless it is four or more fluid ounces and conviction would be based for possession or sales of marijuana would be based on the weight of the actual substance itself.
