Date: February 7, 2011
Title: Iowa’s Continuing War on Drugs
The Iowa House, in the next two weeks, is poised to pass legislation that will make the purchase and manufacture of some recreational drugs illegal.
Last summer, Jennifer Lehman, a Mount Pleasant resident and substance abuse activist, alerted our community about hallucinogenic drugs, K2 and “spice,” that were legally being sold over- the-counter at one of our local businesses. Residents of Mount Pleasant became alarmed and letters to the Mount Pleasant News demanded something be done.
Local law officials said their hands were tied. The drugs were legal. The owner of the local business said he would continue to sell the drug until it was declared illegal. Lehman and other activists urged the state to act immediately. The Iowa Pharmacy Board acted two months later, in July, but could only issue a temporary ban. The Legislature would have the final responsibility to ban the drug.
In the meantime, a young man, David Rozga, 18, of Indianola, smoked synthetic pot, known as K2, and took his own life after experiencing hallucinations and anxiety. David’s death prompted state officials to issue the temporary rules, and K2 disappeared from the merchant’s shelf in Mount Pleasant, and elsewhere across the state of Iowa.
There are several bills that would update the controlled substance laws in our state. Here are some of the substances that would be made illegal:
K2, or “spice” is an herbal and chemical product that produces effects similar to marijuana. It was being sold in some Iowa stores as synthetic marijuana. The Iowa Pharmacy Board approved an emergency ban in July. House File 33 would make the drug illegal.
Salvia is a leafy plant related to the mint plant, that produces an hallucinogenic effect for up to several minutes when smoked, chewed, or taken in a more potent distilled liquid extract form. House File 33 would make the drug illegal for sale or general use.
Caffeinated alcohol is often fruity and contains alcohol and caffeine in a can. This drink has received the nick-name “blackout in a can”. The drinks often deliver a stronger punch than popular mixed drinks. Researchers have found some of the drinks have the equivalent alcohol of five or six beers and the caffeine of five or six colas.
Alcohol acts as depressant, caffeine a stimulant. I was in the lounge business for 42 years and I cannot understand the wanted sensation of your head going two different directions at once. It makes my head hurt just to think about it. Senate File 1 and HF 25 make the manufacture and distribution of such drinks illegal.
Luckily, the federal government has declared marijuana illegal, allowing the Iowa Pharmacy Board to move quickly. Iowa’s Pharmacy Board can only place rules that have first been controlled by federal law. House File 29 would grant the state’s pharmacy board more temporary rule-making authority to place limits on controlled substances until the Legislature could meet to review the issues.
There are advocates in the lobby who are advocating for medical medical marijuana. The effects of the drug are said to be useful for patients with cancer and medicinal qualities. The problem is, they could take it in a pill form, but they want to smoke it. Their argument leads me to believe that such legalization would be dangerous because marijuana is perceived as a gateway drug.
The use of medical marijuana in other states has developed into much broader use than what was originally intended. Colorado and California are excellent examples of this. Representative Clel Baudler, whose desk is immediately behind mine, went to California to experience first-hand the effect of the medical marijuana law. He went to a clinic and told the “doctor” he was suffering from hemorrhoids and depression. Within five minutes he received a prescription for medical marijuana, which he did not fill. HSB 4 would prevent the use of medical marijuana in the state of Iowa.
I have been awarded the chairmanship for the subcommittee which is handling House File 33, which deals with K2 and Salvia. It is my intent to get this bill out of subcommittee this week, and a full Human Resources Committee in the near future. The sooner we can get this bill to the floor of the Iowa House, the safer I feel our young people in Iowa will be.
Thank you Jennifer and other advocates across the state who act as watch dogs, and promote the safety of our youth.
Visiting the capital this week were Khayree Fitten of the State of Iowa Youth Advisory Council, and Mike Norris, with the SEIA Regional Planning Commission, the grandson of long-time Mount Pleasant residents, Irene and the late Bob Norris.
My mailing address is:
Dave Heaton, State Representative, State House, Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Phone: 515-281-7327 ~ Fax: 515-281-6958
E-mail: dave.heaton@legis.state.ia.us
Web page: http://www.daveheaton.net
If you have any issues or concerns, please contact me.
Be sure to include your name and address with any communication to my office.
State Rep. Dave Heaton, R-Mount Pleasant, represents the 91st House District,
which includes all of Henry County and the northern half of Lee County.
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