SB 17-SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS  1:32:40 PM CHAIR DAVIS announced the first order of business would be SB 17.   SENATOR MEYER, sponsor of SB 17, explained this bill would classify synthetic cannabinoids as a controlled substance. He explained that synthetic cannabinoids have recently appeared in the form of a new drug, called "Spice" or "K2". These substances are relatively cheap, easily attainable, and used by many people, especially teenagers. Spice is popular because it has effects similar to marijuana but can't be detected in a drug test, and is legally sold over the counter as incense; it is also more potent than marijuana. The Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) has passed an ordinance prohibiting the possession of the substance in the city of Anchorage. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the US military have also taken action against it, and the city of Juneau is considering an ordinance. By enacting SB 17, he emphasized, hopefully the legislature can prevent this substance from causing more harm and more accidents. Senator Meyer noted that 15 states have already passed legislation against the drug, and 21 states have introduced legislation that will make it unlawful to sell, purchase, possess, manufacture, transport or deliver synthetic cannabinoids. 1:36:07 PM CHRISTINE MARASIGAN, staff to Senator Meyer said she would answer any questions. 1:37:48 PM ROBERT THOMPSON, Sergeant, Fairbanks Police Department, testified in favor of SB 17. On January 12, he said, there was a traffic accident in Fairbanks where the driver admitted to using Spice, and acknowledged that he was impaired. They discovered that they could not charge him under the DUI statutes, but only for reckless driving. It is obviously a public safety risk that people are consuming Spice and driving. Sergeant Thompson noted the driver was described as being passed out, and was disoriented when he came to. He emphasized that although this substance is legal, it creates a significant threat to public safety. 1:39:59 PM DENNIS WHEELER, Municipal Attorney, Anchorage (MOA), said the municipality supports SB 17 and its companion bill, HB 7. The MOA believes there should be felony penalties, and the substance should be criminalized statewide. He mentioned that the MOA has benefitted from a grant from the Highway Traffic Safety Office which allowed Ms. Messig to make presentations around the state regarding this drug, its effects, and why it is so dangerous. 1:42:19 PM JENNIFER MESSIG, Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, Municipality of Anchorage, said that APD had a traffic fatality where Spice was involved, as well as numerous DUI cases, but they are not able to prosecute these as DUI cases. There are also health concerns with these chemical compounds. There has been at least one death directly attributed to Spice; in Montana a 16 year old died after using Spice, and blood toxicology confirmed no other drugs were present in his system. A number of very dangerous symptoms can occur when someone uses this drug, and it doesn't depend on the amount used. Some of the symptoms are dangerously high blood pressure, loss of consciousness, acute tachycardia, unpleasant hallucinations, delusions of impending death, and delusions of super-human strength. SENATOR MEYER noted that many people use Spice because it is legal, so they believe it must not be harmful. He asked about the difference between marijuana and Spice. 1:46:17 PM MS. MESSIG responded that Spice can look like marijuana, because the chemical compounds are often sprayed onto leafy green substances, and it has the same method of delivery. The researcher who developed Spice was actually researching the possible medicinal effects of marijuana. He discovered that the compounds in Spice bind differently in the brain than marijuana, up to 800 times tighter, so the effect is much stronger than marijuana. What makes it so dangerous is that it targets people who might not otherwise experiment with drugs. They reason it is not illegal, so it must not be harmful. 1:49:21 PM SENATOR MEYER said he asked his daughter if she had heard of Spice in her high school, and she said it was very popular because it doesn't show up on a drug test. He then asked how law enforcement agencies test for Spice now that it is illegal in Anchorage. MS. MESSIG said that Spice is not detectable in an ordinary drug screen. A few labs have developed the ability to test for some of those compounds in the urine, and those tests cost anywhere from $35 to $55, but not all 7 compounds can be tested for. One lab can do a blood test but it is very expensive. SENATOR MEYER asked if they have to send samples out of state to be tested. MS. MESSIG confirmed they do have to send them out, and it is a very difficult process. 1:52:08 PM SHELLY HUGHES, Government Affairs Director, Alaska Primary Care Association, testified in support of SB 17. She cited health risks and the potential for substance abuse, and said that the effects to the central nervous systems and cardio vascular systems are evident, and it is a concern to clinicians across the state. Spice-related emergency room visits and the need for medical care by students are all red flags. 1:54:06 PM CHAIR DAVIS closed public testimony on SB 17. SENATOR MEYER asked a question for the state crime lab. 1:54:45 PM ORIN DYM, Manager, Alaska State Scientific Crime Laboratory, Commissioner's Office, Department of Public Safety, stated he was available to answer questions. 1:55:24 PM SENATOR MEYER asked why there is a fiscal note. MR. DYM explained that there are two types of analyses that should be clarified. The Alaska State Crime Lab has no toxicology section; what they can test for is the possession of such substances, in order to provide positive identity for court cases. 1:56:42 PM SENATOR EGAN asked if the state crime lab has seen a cocaine- like bath salts being sold in stores. MR. DYM said the first sample was recently submitted; there are three common chemicals associated with those substances, which he forwarded to the department of law. SENATOR EGAN said, "So it has reached Alaska." MR. DYM confirmed that was true. 1:58:11 PM SENATOR EGAN asked if the new substance could be included in this bill. CHAIR DAVIS said it could be considered. SENATOR MEYER said his staff has looked at that issue. CHRISTINE MARASIGAN, staff to Senator Meyer, said that issue has been brought up before. She pointed out that several of the compounds in Spice have already been on a DEA watch list, which makes Spice a known quantity, with data backing up the use, manufacture, and transport. She further stated that at this point there is no conclusive research on the bath salts. 2:00:21 PM CHAIR DAVIS noted a letter of support from the Mayor of Anchorage, and state troopers on the line to answer questions; she asked if anyone from DSHS was present. 2:01:17 PM CHRISTY LAWTON, Acting Director, Office of Children's Services, said this was the first she had heard of SB 17, and she did not know the department's position. SENATOR EGAN moved to report SB 17 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, SB 17 moved from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.