* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Conaway
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
In Support of State Legislation - House Bill 845 - Criminal Law - Controlled Dangerous Substances - Mephedrone
FOR the purpose of expressing support for this legislation that seeks to list mephedrone and certain similar chemical compounds on Schedule I for the purpose of banning their use, possession, or distribution in Maryland; urging the Honorable Chair and Members of the House Judiciary Committee to give House Bill 845 a favorable report; requesting the Honorable Chair and Members of the Baltimore City House Delegation to the 2011 Maryland General Assembly to work to secure passage of the legislation; and calling upon the Governor to sign the bill into law.
body
Recitals
Drug Alert Watch: Increasing Abuse of Bath Salts U.S. Department of Justice, December 17, 2010 - "Law enforcement officials throughout the country are reporting that products promoted as bath salts have been prevalent as a drug of abuse. Bath salts have recently appeared in some of the same retail outlets that previously sold synthetic cannabinoid products such as K2 and Spice and also are available via the Internet. Bath salts are abused as recreational drugs typically by injection, smoking, snorting, and, less often, by the use of an atomizer."
The Justice Department Alert followed a year that began with reports of youths being admitted to emergency rooms and mental hospitals in Florida and across the country. The Chief of Emergency Medicine for Broward Health reported that there had been at least 2 suicides in Louisiana, 21 calls to Florida poison control centers, and dozens of hospital visits in Central and South Florida. Users experience effects similar to cocaine and crystal meth - but the euphoria often leads to paranoia, chest pains, and irregular heart beats.
According to the Department, the abuse of bath salts and similar substances appears to be increasing, especially over the past 12 months. As synthetic cannabinoids are included as Scheduled drugs, many of their users begin to abuse bath salts. In addition to bath salts, these products are marketed as bath crystals, plant food, and herbal incense. Numerous brands are marketed in all 50 states and via Internet web sites. Common brand names include Blue Silk, Charge +, Ivory Snow, Ivory Wave, Ocean Burst, Pure Ivory, Purple Wave, Snow Leopard, Stardust, Vanilla Sky, White Dove, White Knight, and White Lightening.
In central Pennsylvania, these substances have been offered for sale under the brand name "Blizzard". The Blizzard brand is described as a white, odorless, fine-grained powder similar in appearance to baby powder or flour. Many other brands are a tan or brown powdery substance. Nationwide, male and female abusers of these substances range from teenagers to those in their 40s, "often with an extensive history of drug abuse".
Some abusers describe the effects as similar to methamphetamine, ecstacy, and cocaine, and it has been referred to as "complete crank" or "fake cocaine". The documented effects include "agitation, an intense high, euphoria, extreme energy, hallucinations, insomnia, and making abusers angry. Preliminary testing indicates that the active ingredients in many brands contain MDPV (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone) and/or mephedrone."
Passage of House Bill 845, which would list both substances as Schedule I for purposes of banning their use, possession, and distribution in Maryland, would greatly assist Baltimore City in our attempt to rid our streets and communities of the devastating first- and second-hand consequences of drug abuse.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body supports this legislation that seeks to list mephedrone and certain similar chemical compounds on Schedule I for the purpose of banning their use, possession, or distribution in Maryland; urges the Honorable Chair and Members of the House Judiciary Committee to give House Bill 845 a favorable report; requests the Honorable Chair and Members of the Baltimore City House Delegation to the 2011 Maryland General Assembly to work to secure passage of the legislation; and calls upon the Governor to sign the bill into law.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Governor, the Honorable Chair and Members of the House Judiciary Committee, the Honorable Chair and Members of the Baltimore City House Delegation to the 2011 Maryland General Assembly, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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