Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would try to stop the influx of synthetic analogues entering the United States.
Synthetic drugs are engineered substances similar to already-controlled drugs. They often enter the United States undetected from countries like China and Mexico. Illicit drug makers and importers circumvent U.S. controlled substances laws by altering single atoms in controlled substances to create drugs that are not yet outlawed.
The Stop Importation and Manufacturing of Synthetic Analogues Act would allow the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to assign substances as Schedule A if they meet two conditions. Their chemical structure must be substantially similar to a controlled substance and they have the same or greater effect on the human body.
Under the bill, anyone who manufactures, exports and imports synthetic drugs would be subject to the criminal penalties associated with Schedule A
The bill also includes provisions to ensure legitimate research on substances added to Schedule A continues.
Under the current law, the DEA must analyze uncontrolled substances before it can permanently schedule them.
U.S. Reps. Don Davis (D-NC), Russell Fry (R-SC), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and August Pfluger (R-TX) introduced the bill, while U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced a companion bill in the Senate.