Schumer: Feds Must Take Swipe At Synthetic Drug Online Sales Over Credit Card Networks

Press Release

Following a massive synthetic drug bust in New York City this past week, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, today, called on the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to launch a special investigative unit dedicated to cracking down on the sale of synthetic marijuana. Specifically, Schumer is urging the DEA to create a special unit to police vendors currently using websites to sell illegal synthetic drugs online and to notify credit card companies and other payment processors such as PayPal and Venmo of bad actors. Schumer explained that, while it is illegal to sell or distribute synthetic marijuana in New York City and New York State, young people as well as dealers and bodega owners easily purchase synthetic drugs, like "K2" and "Scooby Snax," on the Internet with little to no consequence. Those involved in this week's synthetic drug bust illegally obtained the chemicals from China and Schumer said that it was likely via the internet. Schumer said that, with the startling rise in synthetic drug use and abuse, the federal government should make every effort to identify and keep a record of which websites are selling the illicit drugs and work with local law enforcement as well as credit card companies to halt sales. Schumer went on to say that credit card companies should dedicate necessary resources to receiving and acting on this information as quickly as possible and block the sale of dangerous drugs before they get shipped.

Schumer is also urging the DEA to increase transparency by publishing information on known and emerging synthetic drug brands that have been found to contain illegal substances on the internet.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York, in a recent two-month period, the use of synthetic marijuana resulted in 2,300 emergency room visits in New York State alone. Across the nation, synthetic marijuana-related phone calls made to poison centers in the first four months of this year increased by 229% compared to the same period last year, and synthetic drug-related emergency room visits in New York State have increased tenfold. Schumer said that this dramatic increase--one that is taking place despite a federal crack-down--can also be attributed to synthetic drug retailers and makers who are now developing synthetic drugs with new chemical compounds that are not currently on the DEA's controlled substance list.

"Despite efforts in New York to crack down on synthetic drugs, the recent drug bust along with the startling uptick in ER visits shows that these dangerous chemical compounds and these illegal synthetics are still making their way onto store shelves and into the hands of New Yorkers and that's in part due to internet sales," said Senator Schumer. "With countless websites popping-up and selling illegal synthetic drugs like "K2,' the DEA must set up a special unit dedicated to identifying and investigating dangerous websites that have tragically invigorated the synthetic drug epidemic. I am urging the DEA to take a swipe at synthetic drug sales online and provide credit card companies with the information they need to block transactions from taking place on these dangerous sites before these drugs make their way onto our streets."

Synthetic drugs are often a toxic combination of chemicals made to mimic 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana. Schumer explained that these drugs are very powerful, react differently to each person, and often come with severe side effects that could lead to almost instant death. These drugs are often made to seem inviting and harmless -- sold under names like "K2," "Scooby Snax," "incense," "spice," etc. -- but in actuality they are dangerous chemical concoctions, and this false advertising may entice users -- especially young people. According to the Congressional Research Service, the effects of synthetic drugs ranges from nausea to drug-induced psychosis, even death. This makes the harmful nature of the drugs unpredictable and unsafe for human consumption.

While it is illegal to sell or distribute synthetic marijuana products in New York City and New York State, Schumer explained that teens and young people can easily purchase synthetic drugs out of state or on the Internet with little to no consequence. Specifically, sites like www.organicspiceblend.com; www.spice4fun.com; www.spice4high.com; www.theofficialk2incense.com and more, provide easy access to synthetic drugs and are likely a go-to supplier for both young adults and bodega owners who resell the products. According to the New York Times, China has been the primary source for new synthetic drugs.

This past week, an historic synthetic marijuana ring was exposed and ten people were listed in a federal indictment for allegedly manufacturing synthetic marijuana using chemical compounds from China and distributing them to bodegas across New York City. Law enforcement officials seized $30 million worth of the product, including approximately 275,000 packets of the product. Approximately 90 bodegas across New York were raided for selling K2.

Schumer has long supported measures to crackdown on synthetic marijuana use across the country. Schumer explained that, between the years 2009 and 2012, synthetic drug abuse was on the rise. In response, Schumer fought hard in Congress to pass the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 that banned many forms of these chemicals and enhanced DEA authority to ban new ones that emerge. As part of the legislation, Congress used its legislative authority to place over 20 chemical compounds that had been used in synthetic marijuana and other synthetic drugs into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the classification for the most dangerous drugs. The legislation gave the DEA enhanced authority to temporarily place uncontrolled substances that pose an imminent hazard to public safety, like these synthetic chemicals, into Schedule I of the CSA.

Schumer said the DEA is currently investigating approximately 300 of these compounds, which have been found in synthetic drugs across the country, but the DEA has yet to add the majority of them to the list of controlled substances. Earlier this year, Schumer called on the DEA to quickly ban more of the nearly 300 dangerous chemical compounds on its list that are used to make synthetic drugs before the problem becomes more rampant.

Schumer has also been working to pass the Protecting Our Youth from Dangerous Synthetic Drugs Act, which is designed to further combat synthetic drugs. Schumer explained that this legislation, authored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), would establish an inter-agency special investigative unit of scientists and experts to create a list of controlled substance analogues, and prohibits the importation of any controlled substance analogue. Schumer said that synthetic drug makers will continue to try to produce chemical compounds that skirt around federal law, and as a result, legislation like this is needed to provide the DEA with more authority to prevent new synthetics that are bound to crop up in the years to come. In the midst of this legislative effort, Schumer adds today's push and says the DEA could establish the new unit he is calling for almost instantaneously. Schumer said that it would have a broad and positive impact in the war against these synthetic drugs and dangerous new chemicals.

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