Political Quotes

“The Synthetic Drug Control Act adds specified synthetic versions of drugs of abuse to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. These designer drugs generally mimic the effects of marijuana or of stimulants and can be unsafe, causing convulsions, anxiety attacks, dangerously elevated heart rates, and bizarre and dangerous behavior, among other conditions. Under current authority, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has difficulty taking action against these drugs because they fall outside existing statutory descriptions of Schedule I drugs. H.R. 1254 will enable DEA to take appropriate enforcement actions to get them off the street and away from our Nation's youth. I therefore believe it is critical that we deal with the threat these drugs pose. I wish to note however that I have concerns with the basic underlying statute that would now apply to these listed substances through this legislation. In particular, I do not support the mandatory minimum sentencing provisions of the Controlled Substances Act for Schedule I drugs, provisions that under this legislation will apply to the listed synthetic drugs as they apply to all Schedule I drugs. Mandatory minimum sentencing inappropriately applies a one size fits all approach, eliminating the ability of judges to exercise discretion in determining an appropriate sentence in light of individual circumstances.…”