Rochester, N.Y. --- Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) says that Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) of Kentucky is standing in the way of current legislation that would criminalize many synthetic drugs.
Sen. Rand Paul placed a hold on this legislation effectively slowing it's process through the Senate. The House of Representatives has already passed this legislation.
In a series of media events this year Sen. Schumer toured the state pressing for the passage of this bill.
“Powdered cocaine wouldn’t be legal just because you stamped ‘powdered sugar’ on the bag," Schumer stated in one recent press release. “Synthetic marijuana shouldn’t be legal just because it masquerades as potpourri. We need to pass this bill now and get these dangerous drugs out of convenience stores before they do even more harm.”
A spokeswoman for Sen. Paul has repeatedly told various media outlets that he believes, "...enforcement of most drug laws can and should be local and state issues." The spokeswoman has added that the federal government has the authority to ban synthetic-drug chemicals without action from Congress.
That refers to a current FDA ban on various chemicals used in some synthetic drugs but it is a temporary ban that this legislation intend to make permanent.
Below, 13WHAM News has placed contact information and web links to each of these Senator's offices so you can make your voice on this issue heard in Washington. (Click on each Senator's name to be taken to their website)
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky
Washington D.C. Office
208 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510
202-224-4343
Sen. Charles Schumer of New York
Washington D.C. Office
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510
202-224-0420
