New Law Protects Illinois Citizens from Synthetic Drugs

 Posted on February 04, 2016 in Drug Crimes

Synthetic drugs are dangerous, and they are spreading quickly across the United States. The Centers for Disease Control recently reported that the number of calls to poison centers across the United States due to synthetic drugs escalated over 200 percent from 2014 to 2015. As these unpredictable and dangerous substances grow in popularity, Illinois lawmakers hope keep their constituents safe. Senate Bill 1129, passed just last year and effective as of January 1st, 2016, aims to curb synthetic drug use in the state of Illinois, keep Illinois residents out of harm's way. What Are Synthetic Drugs? Synthetic drugs, often referred to as designer drugs, are defined by Illinois law as any product containing a controlled substance that is not regulated by the FDA. New synthetic drugs are being developed constantly, and between 2009 and 2014, over 200 previously unidentified synthetic drugs were discovered in America alone. The problem is not exclusive to the United States either. Over the past ten years, over 650 different types of synthetic drugs spread across Europe. In America, the most frequently dealt with synthetic drugs are synthetic marijuana, otherwise known as Spice or K2, and synthetic cathinones, often referred to as bath salts. Authorities across the United States face difficulty keeping synthetic drug creation, use, and sales under wraps, due to the fact that variations and new substances are created frequently. For users, synthetic drugs can be extremely dangerous. Synthetic marijuana substances may provide users with a similar high to marijuana, but can also bring about many side effects. “Nobody knows what is in these things and so therefore nobody can predict the effect on the person who uses them,” says one Illinois addiction treatment specialist. From January to May of 2015, fifteen people died due to synthetic marijuana use. Other symptoms, which depend on the drug, can include drowsiness, agitation, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, and worse. Advocates say that young Americans are at the most risk for using synthetic drugs, as they are often unaware of the side effects and believe them to be a smarter choice than actual drugs. Illinois’ New Law In an attempt to curb the growing problem, Illinois lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1129 that classifies synthetic drugs as “Schedule 1” controlled substances. In Illinois, “Schedule 1” substances are considered to have no medical use and are commonly addictive. Lawmakers say the new bill will also prevent drug manufacturers from creating any future synthetic substances. Harsh Consequences for Synthetic Drugs Possessing even a minimal amount of a synthetic drug can still lead to serious legal consequences. Those caught selling the drug may face prison time of up to seven years and fines upwards of $100,000. In addition to the legal consequences of “Schedule 1” drug possession or sales, a conviction of drug charges can be potentially life ruining, and can affect friends, family, your life, and your reputation.

Due to the serious consequences associated with synthetic drugs, if your charges involve distribution, possession, or drug trafficking, you need the help of an experienced Chicago area criminal defense attorney. At the Law Offices of Hal M. Garfinkel LLC, Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney, our qualified team has years of combined experience protecting clients from drug related charges. Call us today at 312-629-0669 to schedule a free consultation with a hard working, aggressive attorney today.

  Sources: http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/synthetic.html http://www.mystateline.com/news/bill-targets-illinois-synthetic-drugs

http://www.wrex.com/story/31044666/2016/01/24/new-illinois-law-aims-to-protect-people-from-harms-of-synthetic-drugs