Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2012

SCHUMER LEGISLATION BANNING BATH SALTS, SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA AND 9 OTHER DEADLY SYNTHETIC SUBSTANCES PASSES CONGRESS; LIFE-SAVING MEASURE NOW HEADED TO PRESIDENT’S DESK FOR SIGNATURE

Schumer Legislation Will Add 31 Substances to List of Controlled Substances and Stop Legal Sales of 'Bath Salts,' Synthetic Marijuana, and Synthetic Hallucinogens in United States; Federal Law Is Critical To Combat Scourge, Particularly Across State Lines

Schumer Has Led the Charge in Banning Synthetic Substances For Over A Year –Amendment Passes as Part of Larger FDA Bill

Schumer: The Market for Deadly Synthetic Drugs is Now Closed

United States Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that the U.S. Senate passed has powerful new drug legislation that would permanently ban the deadly chemical compounds marketed and sold as bath salts and incense and synthetic marijuana in the United States. Schumer successfully fought to include three bills relating to synthetic substances, S. 409 (Bath Salts), S. 605 (Synthetic Marijuana), S. 839 (Synthetic Hallucinogens) as part of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act which passed the Senate last night, after having already passed the House. Schumer and his colleagues were able to pass this ban over the strenuous objections of Senator Rand Paul (R-KY).

“The market for deadly synthetic drugs is now closed,” said Schumer. “This bill closes loopholes that have allowed manufacturers to circumvent local and state bans and it ensures you can’t simply cross state lines to buy these deadly poisons. We have seen bath salts involved in some of the most heinous crimes in recent months and with the president’s signature, we can eradicate these toxins once and for all.”

Schumer’s bath salt legislation will specifically ban MDPV (methylenedioxypyrovalerone) and mephedrone, the active ingredients in bath salts and are now being sold online, at convenience stores, and in smoke shops under names like Tranquility, Zoom, Ivory Wave, Red Dove, Legal Phunk and Vanilla Sky. According to numerous reports, the chemicals found in these bath salts and plant foods cause effects similar to those caused by cocaine and Methamphetamines, including hallucinations, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts. In one case a user was reported to have resorted to self-mutilation after abusing the substance. In several cases, users have died after overdosing or because of violent behavior.

The bill will also ban the 20 primary components of synthetic marijuana. Synthetic marijuana’s disturbing effects have also been seen throughout Long Island. According to Newsday, in March a man ended up in the hospital thinking he was having an anxiety attack or a heart attack after using synthetic marijuana. Furthermore, Fran Karliner, director of the Long Island Crisis Center in Bellmore, told the Long Island Herald in May that area hospitals have seen an increasing number of cases patients exhibiting "irrational behavior" due to synthetic marijuana. Schumer’s federal ban will help halt the growing scourge of synthetic drug use on Long Island.

Below is a list of all 31 substances that Schumer’s legislation would ban on a federal level:

A) Synthetic Marijuana:

1. 2-(3-hydroxycyclohexyl)phenol with substitution at the 5-position of the phenolic ring by alkyl or alkenyl, whether or not substituted on the cyclohexyl ring to any extent.

2. 3-(1-naphthoyl)indole or 3-(1-naphthylmethane)indole by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring, whether or not further substituted on the indole ring to any extent, whether or not substituted on the naphthoyl or naphthyl ring to any extent.

3. 3-(1-naphthoyl)pyrrole by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the pyrrole ring, whether or not further substituted in the pyrrole ring to any extent, whether or not substituted on the naphthoyl ring to any extent.

4. 1-(1-naphthylmethylene)indene by substitution of the 3-position of the indene ring, whether or not further substituted in the indene ring to any extent, whether or not substituted on the naphthyl ring to any extent.

5. 3-phenylacetylindole or 3-benzoylindole by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring, whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent, whether or not substituted on the phenyl ring to any extent.

6. 5-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol (CP-47,497);

7. 5-(1,1-dimethyloctyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol (cannabicyclohexanol or CP-47,497 C8-homolog);

8. 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-018 and AM678);

9. 1-butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-073);

10. 1-hexyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-019);

11. 1-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-200);

12. 1-pentyl-3-(2-methoxyphenylacetyl)indole (JWH-250);

13. 1-pentyl-3-[1-(4-methoxynaphthoyl)]indole (JWH-081);

14. 1-pentyl-3-(4-methyl-1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-122);

15. 1-pentyl-3-(4-chloro-1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-398);

16. 1-(5-fluoropentyl)-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (AM2201);

17. 1-(5-fluoropentyl)-3-(2-iodobenzoyl)indole (AM694);