Legislature(2007 - 2008)BUTROVICH 205
03/19/2007 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR4 | |
| SB100 | |
| SB38 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SCR 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 38 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 100 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 38-SALVIA DIVINORUM AS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
2:51:04 PM
CHAIR BETTYE DAVIS announced SB 38 to be up for consideration.
DAVE STANCLIFF, staff to Senator Therriault, sponsor of SB 38,
said that the bill would add Salvia divinorum to the state's
list of controlled substances. It's the most potent naturally
occurring hallucinogenic substance on the planet; there are
groups on both sides of the issue of classification, and Mr.
Stancliff cited testimony from users. Alaska is considered to be
a "green-light" state for shipping of the substance, meaning it
can be easily obtained over the internet without legal
ramifications. It has gained popularity as a legal alternative
to marijuana, and many young people have access to it. Studies
indicate that the use of it is rising, while the internet is
making it very easy to find. The state crime lab is in the
process of creating a way to identify the presence of the drug
in a user's system. SB 38 will send a message to all using the
drug that it's a substance that is unpredictable, powerful, and
dangerous, while allowing it to remain prescribeable for medical
reasons. He added that the drug is currently available in Juneau
and online; he showed print-outs from the internet showing the
prevalence of Salvia divinorum information on the internet.
2:59:21 PM
SENATOR COWDERY asked if the drug is a plant.
MR. STANCLIFF said that it's a plant grown in Mexico, and a
member of the sage genus; there's no blood or breath test
available for the drug. The main purpose of the bill is to act
as a disincentive to people shipping it to Alaska.
SENATOR COWDERY asked about the effects of the drug.
MR. STANCLIFF said that according to online research, the drug
causes hallucinations and a state of uncontrolled delirium. It
would be dangerous to operate a motor vehicle under the
influence.
3:02:03 PM
JACK HURD, analyst for the Alaska Scientific Crime Detection
Laboratory, said that he was available for questions on the
bill.
SENATOR DYSON asked if people are victimized under the influence
of the drug.
MR. STANCLIFF said that that would be possible.
SENATOR DYSON asked how many other states have criminalized the
drug.
MR. STANCLIFF said that four states have banned it, and at least
seven countries have banned it or control it heavily.
3:03:25 PM
SENATOR ELTON asked if the state crime laboratory is currently
developing tests for identification in a person's body, and
asked if there are costs incurred by the process.
MR. HURD said that the costs would be negligible.
SENATOR ELTON asked if the drug is federally banned.
MR. STANCLIFF said that the DEA has not placed it on its
controlled substance list, although there have been several
measures before Congress to begin that action.
3:05:06 PM
JACK DEGENSTEIN, with the Alaskan Libertarian Party, said that
he's studied the plant for the last four years, and the
information in the sponsor statement is skewed. He said that
the news on the drug has changed to become more pejorative over
time, and that facts often cited about the case of a kid who
committed suicide under the influence were not clearly used.
He explained that Salvia divinorum is not a similar substance to
LSD or marijuana. The bill proposes to keep children from
accessing the plant, but since it's federally legal it can't
ever become totally illegal in Alaska. Other substances are
more dangerous than Salvia divinorum, which doesn't cause brain
damage. If Salvia is made illegal, it will simply be replaced by
something else. It will only make criminals out of law-abiding
citizens, and people using it irresponsibly will continue to do
so. Vendors have said that they will continue sending it to
Alaska despite a state ban, so the bill will be pointless.
He explained how the drug has been found to relieve depression
where other substances have failed. Recent studies have shown
that it relieves cocaine and opium addiction in rats; if the
plant is made illegal in the state, research possibilities will
be limited. The drug is non-toxic even with prolonged exposure,
and shows promise in addiction help; the bill would be harmful
to those wishing to cease their addictions. The bill could be
altered to allow for older individuals to receive the plant;
Maine is attempting to make it legal for those 18 and older, but
a felony for provision to underage kids. The people who want to
use the plant responsibly shouldn't be punished.
SENATOR COWDERY asked if the testifier had used the drug.
MR. DEGENSTEIN said that he had, 4 months previously.
SENATOR COWDERY asked how he found the plant.
MR. DEGENSTEIN replied that he ordered a live plant over the
internet.
DAVIS said that there were some concerns about the bill but she
thought it should be allowed to move through the system. She
then asked the will of the body.
SENATOR COWDERY moved to report SB 38 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, the motion carried.
CHAIR DAVIS, seeing no further business before the committee,
adjourned the meeting at 3:16:47 PM.
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