92 Chemical Compounds
February 14th, 2012 by flanewsLast year lawmakers voted to end the sale of synthetic drugs in Florida stores. Manufactures quickly produced new “legal” drugs. Now lawmakers are back to close the loopholes. As Whitney Ray tells us, legislation to outlaw 92 chemical compounds, promises to put an end to the legal synthetic drug trade in Florida, at least for a little while.
Less than a year after taking synthetic drugs like K2 and Spice off the shelves in Florida, lawmakers are back at work, fighting a new wave of legal drugs.
“I feel like it’s almost Groundhog Day,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Bondi spearheaded efforts last year to ban bath salt, a synthetic PCP-like drug being sold openly in head shops and gas stations. But manufactures went back to the lab and made new products.
“We have a message for these people who are trying to destroy our kids’ lives with manmade chemicals. Guys, chemistry class is over,” Bondi declared.
One of the new compounds was reportedly used by 19 year-old Logan Kushner of Palm Harbor just hours before he was found drown in a creek. Last week a Lakeland teen was found hallucinating before school. Sheriffs see it all the time.
“I had one boy who was hallucinating and chasing his father around the house with a machete, didn’t know what he was doing. He was just out of his mind,” said Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Cameron.
Last year’s bill outlawed five chemical compounds. This year lawmakers have compiled a list of 92 chemical blends to add to the list.
Inspector David Gross says FDLE has scoured the country to find legal drugs that might show up in Florida. The goal is to stay ahead of the manufacturers.
“We thought it would be prudent to put all of them on the list. To not only stop the ones that are in the state, but to be forward thinking, forward leaning and get those that haven’t yet reach our state border but are still out there,” said Gross.
The hope is to buy some time. It’s hard to stay ahead of the manufacturers, who will find compounds not covered in the new legislation. Since last years ban, a thousand people have been arrested for possession of bath salts and other synthetic drugs.
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