ATTORNEY GENERAL MADIGAN’S PROPOSAL TO COMBAT SYNTHETIC DRUGS CLEARS HOUSE COMMITTEE

Springfield —Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced that the House Judiciary Criminal Law Committee unanimously sent to the full House an amendment to the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act that will help address the synthetic drug epidemic in the state.

“Drug makers’ continued attempts to sell synthetic drugs jeopardize the lives of teens and young adults,” Madigan said. “This bill recognizes that chemicals sold to be taken as drugs, regardless of what they’re called or their bogus labeling, are life threatening and illegal.”

Madigan said combating the synthetic drug epidemic presents unique challenges for law enforcement and prosecutors because the chemical makeup of the products can be easily altered by manufacturers to avoid violating the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. In addition, these drugs are sold in packages that misleadingly claim the products are legal as confirmed by so-called “official” lab results.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

HR 1254, The Synthetic Drug Act of 2011, passed the U. S. House of Representatives on December 8, 2011.  The bill has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary in the Senate.

We are asking everyone to call:

• Sen. Rand Paul’s office:  (202) 224-4343 When you call, urge his staff to urge him to uphold the Unanimous Consent Agreement on HR 1254.
• Sen. Patrick Leahy’s office: (202) 224-4242 Ask him to allow HR 1254 to bypass the Committee of the Judiciary and let it go straight to a full senate vote.
• Sen. Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader’s office: (202) 224-3542 Ask him to do everything in his power to bring HR 1254 up for a full vote in the U.S. Senate as quickly as possible.