Sen. Snowe: Federal Government Must Move Quickly to Ban "Bath Salts'

Statement

U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today joined a congressional effort to federally outlaw the key ingredients in the new synthetic narcotic commonly referred to as "bath salts.' Senator Snowe is urging quick congressional approval of S.409, legislation authored by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), which would add MDPV and mephedrone to the list of controlled substances making their possession and sale illegal in the United States.

As a cosponsor of S. 409, Senator Snowe said:

"The severity of the problem cannot be overstated. The scourge of this drug and its spread in Maine is deeply concerning and must be addressed at all levels of government. The efforts of law enforcement and other community leaders in Bangor and elsewhere are commendable, but the prevalence, spread and ease of access to this substance requires an additional Federal response. As the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration recently noted, the chemicals in this drug "pose a significant and growing threat to our nation.' Making it illegal to possess or sell Mephedrone and MDPV, and raising awareness to the problem will help keep our communities safe. Having already passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in July, this bipartisan legislation should be a top priority for the full Chamber's consideration and I urge Senate leadership to move forward with this effort."

BACKGROUND: On September 7, 2011, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) used its emergency authority to temporarily ban Mephedrone and MDPV. The ban will be in effect starting in early October and remain in place for at least one year while the DEA and the Department of Health and Human Services study a permanent ban on the substances. On July 28, 2011 the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed S.409. It has since been placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar.

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