2011-02-28: House Majority Press

(Juneau) - para
The Alaska State House of Representatives today unanimously passed a bill banning synthetic cannabinoids, sold as "Spice" or "K2." House Community & Regional Affairs Committee Chair Cathy Munoz, R-Juneau, sponsored the bill, HB7, which adds the substances to the schedule IIIA list of controlled substances. Sentences range from a misdemeanor for possession to a felony for distribution.

"The drugs can have a devastating effect on users," Munoz said. "Right now it's legal to buy and sell synthetic cannabinoids, but we're asking legislators and the governor to stand with 13 other states in enacting laws to ban their production and sale. Synthetic marijuana is more dangerous than natural marijuana because it is a hallucinogen, whose use leads to unpredictable side effects that range from mild to severe. I am thankful the House voted to move the bill to the Senate, and am proud to uphold our guiding principle to promote safe and healthy communities."

Marijuana is currently a schedule VI A controlled substance. Schedule III A includes materials, compounds and mixtures which contain similar synthetic chemicals.

HB 7, which passed by a vote of 35 to zero, now moves to the Alaska Senate for consideration.

###