FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) May 23, 2011 --
The Retail Compliance Association (RCA) http://www.therca.org, has drafted a document that calls for regulations similar to what New Zealand has put in place to control the growing market around synthetic cannabinoids. This document is in response to rouge police departments raiding small stores, arresting store clerks, and seizing products and money without warrants, or probable cause.
Daniel Francis, the Executive Director of the RCA says "The cannabinoids have been for the most part very safe when compared to many other products like alcohol and even peanuts, unlike bath salts, which are dangerous chemicals, the Cannabinoids have a long history of safety that goes back to the military and their sixty years of research." The RCA does not support the sale of so called "bath salts".
In November the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) moved to ban five compounds, but this was completely ineffective as the potential number of compounds exceeds 1000 at this time. The DEA has recognized that the issues related to these products cannot be controlled by legislation. According to testimony given to the Senate Judiciary Committee International Drug Caucus on April 6th by DEA Deputy Administrator of Diversion Control, Joseph Rannazzisi "There may be in excess of 100 cannabinoid products that have yet to be introduced into the marketplace. Manufacturers and distributors will continue to be one step ahead of any State or Federal drug-specific banning or control action by introducing / repackaging new cannabinoid products that are not controlled".
You can listen to the hearing in full on you tube. It is a very interesting take on the analogue act and the
DEA Special Agent describes well the folly of enforcement under the analogue act.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCemR7zjHlc
These statements are a drastic change from the DEA's initial warnings to the industry. Their public message has changed as well. DEA agent Jim Molesa said the other day in an Arizona News Article titled "Spice is Back in Arizona" that the agency hadn't noticed a decrease in either the use or sale of spice since it was made illegal ( important note: spice was not made illegal, just five potential ingredients, and they have been replaced by other legal ingredients in almost all cases)....."If you're trying to legislate this, you're always going to be a day late and a dollar short," Molesa said.
The RCA Executive Director, Daniel Francis, has been on Capitol Hill addressing this issue and Senate Bill 605 which was introduced by Senator Hatch in March to support the DEA's Temporary Ban. The document calls for license fees for manufacturers and distributors, a luxury tax, and specifications for labeling, product manufacturing standards, and product tracking. you can get a copy by emailing Dan Francis, the RCA executive Director at [email protected].
"These compounds are in so many products nowadays it is hard to tell. Perfumes, candies, room air fresheners all have cannabinoid like compounds that enhance their scent and taste along with delivering a mind changing experience. The human body makes over 30 endogenous cannabinoids, so banning them is impossible, that is why we support regulations that provide and avenue of funding so the regulations can be enforced."
Francis went on to say "Rouge prosecutors and Police departments have been making unlawful arrests and violating so many constitutional rights regarding the store owners. I have heard from stores in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Georgia and many other states. I want to caution all prosecutors and law enforcement. The laws target an ingredient, and invisible ingredient that may or may not be on the materials in the sealed package that is being sold as incense or potpourri. The potential compound must be identified before the items can be seized, anything short of that is a hunch and not going to hold up in court. the DEA is cautioning you as well ...."As a result, it is almost impossible outside of a controlled laboratory environment to determine the chemical composition, and the quantity, potency, and type of synthetic ingredients in these substances. It is equally challenging to determine what the potential harmful effects may be due to human consumption" Joesph Rannazzisi, DEA
The RCA continues to push for reasonable laws that do not turn hard working shop owners into felons. To support the RCA, visit http://www.therca.org.
source @ http://www.free-press-release.com/n...-fail-regulations-may-be-next-1306164067.html