04/16/2011 10:00 AM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 7(JUD)                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act classifying certain substances as schedule                                                                         
     IIIA controlled substances; and providing for an                                                                           
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:59:12 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KEVIN  MEYER informed  the committee  that synthetic                                                                    
cannabinoids were sometimes  referred to as K2  or spice. He                                                                    
mentioned that  the substance  was legal  in many  places in                                                                    
the state. He  added that the substance  was inexpensive and                                                                    
virtually undetectable in a drug test.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
11:00:44 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CATHY  MUNOZ added  that HB 7  would classify                                                                    
certain  synthetic  cannabinoids as  controlled  substances.                                                                    
The amended legislation made possession  of 12 grams or less                                                                    
a  misdemeanor offense  and 12  grams  or higher  a class  C                                                                    
felony.   She  explained   the  concern   that  some   users                                                                    
experience serious adverse  reactions including convulsions,                                                                    
anxiety  attacks,  elevated   heart  rate,  increased  blood                                                                    
pressure,  and  vomiting.  The  issue  was  brought  to  her                                                                    
attention  by a  parent  whose child  experienced a  serious                                                                    
adverse  reaction. She  continued  that HB  7 classified  10                                                                    
commonly  used  chemicals  as Schedule  3A  substances.  She                                                                    
pointed out three  zero fiscal notes from  the Department of                                                                    
Law (DOL),  the Department of  Public Safety (DPS),  and the                                                                    
Department of Corrections (DOC).                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman highlighted the three zero fiscal notes.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
11:02:31 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson commented  that the  discussion of  synthetic                                                                    
cannabinoids  arose   in  the   medical  community   as  the                                                                    
chemicals were easy to obtain and often dangerous.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
11:03:19 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
11:03:42 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  MOVED to  report HB 7  out of  committee with                                                                    
individual  recommendations  and   the  accompanying  fiscal                                                                    
note(s).                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
HB  7  was  REPORTED  out  of committee  with  a  "do  pass"                                                                    
recommendation and  with one  new indeterminate  fiscal note                                                                    
from  the  Department  of  Corrections  and  two  previously                                                                    
published fiscal notes: FN4 (HFIN/DPS) and FN5 (LAW).