As we all know, Obama signed this bill into law last month. But nobody has been able to definitively answer: did the new law effectively become enforceable from the same day it was signed, July 9, 2012? Or is there a grace period or length of time otherwise required between when new laws are enacted and when people can be arrested for violating them?
Also, there is still a plethora of misinformation and resulting confusion over the new law. Even National Geographic Channel's new series 'Drugs, Inc.' just aired a new episode the other night (post-Obama's signing of SDAPA) about synthetic drugs and stated that the new law has made illegal most of the chemicals used in bath salts (typically cathinones) but "failed to include the chemicals used in synthetic marijuana," which is obviously untrue because the law specifically bans a group of 'cannabimimetic agents.' And that's just one example of the confusion.
It is my understanding that the law, instead of scheduling specific chemicals, has added to Schedule I of the CSA all chemicals that have a particular mechanism of action (such as synthetic cannabinoids which bind to CB1, etc.). Yet there are still reputable sources that are stating that the law specifically "added fifteen synthetic cannabinoids, which are commonly known as "Spice," and eleven synthetic cathinones, commonly referred to as "bath salts," to Schedule I of the CSA." So which is it? Specific bans? Or general provisions? (Either way this country is headed in a frighteningly dangerous direction...at this rate it won't be long before they tell us we can't have, use, or do anything that makes us "feel" a certain way, e.g. "happy, horny, etc.")... At first I was under the impression that the purpose of SDAPA was to permanently add to Schedule I the five synthetic cannabinoids that were temporarily scheduled by the DEA in March 2011 (JWH-018, JWH-073, CP-47497, JWH-200, and cannabicyclohexanol), else that emergency scheduling would be expiring shortly (emergency scheduling lasts for a maximum of one year with a 6 month extension, which means it would have been due to expire next month - so the timing of Obama's signing did not seem to be without purpose). And yes, apparently the new law has also doubled the length of time for which the DEA can place substances on an emergency Schedule I status.
I know I have just asked a ton of questions (or maybe all of the questions exist only in my head but are confusing me to the point of spouting them off as a session of random incoherent rambling akin to something uttered during a bath salt-induced psychosis), but I guess I am just looking to be directed somewhere for accurate information, so any accurate information or direction would be superb. My main question is regarding when the new law is going to be enforced. Personally, I know of many convenience stores in my area that still carry and sell incense/potpourri/smoke blends and bath salts (okay, they're actually called 'pipe cleaner' now) but if the new law targets 'cannabimimetic agents' wouldn't that essentially eradicate any and all worthwhile incense blends? In other words, say, if someone were to have just sold me incense, I smoked it and got high -- all hypothetically, of course -- and let's assume that the high was produced at least somewhat via CB1 activity -- wouldn't this vendor that sold me the incense now be in violation of federal law?
SOMEBODY, PLEASE HELP.....!!
Also, there is still a plethora of misinformation and resulting confusion over the new law. Even National Geographic Channel's new series 'Drugs, Inc.' just aired a new episode the other night (post-Obama's signing of SDAPA) about synthetic drugs and stated that the new law has made illegal most of the chemicals used in bath salts (typically cathinones) but "failed to include the chemicals used in synthetic marijuana," which is obviously untrue because the law specifically bans a group of 'cannabimimetic agents.' And that's just one example of the confusion.
It is my understanding that the law, instead of scheduling specific chemicals, has added to Schedule I of the CSA all chemicals that have a particular mechanism of action (such as synthetic cannabinoids which bind to CB1, etc.). Yet there are still reputable sources that are stating that the law specifically "added fifteen synthetic cannabinoids, which are commonly known as "Spice," and eleven synthetic cathinones, commonly referred to as "bath salts," to Schedule I of the CSA." So which is it? Specific bans? Or general provisions? (Either way this country is headed in a frighteningly dangerous direction...at this rate it won't be long before they tell us we can't have, use, or do anything that makes us "feel" a certain way, e.g. "happy, horny, etc.")... At first I was under the impression that the purpose of SDAPA was to permanently add to Schedule I the five synthetic cannabinoids that were temporarily scheduled by the DEA in March 2011 (JWH-018, JWH-073, CP-47497, JWH-200, and cannabicyclohexanol), else that emergency scheduling would be expiring shortly (emergency scheduling lasts for a maximum of one year with a 6 month extension, which means it would have been due to expire next month - so the timing of Obama's signing did not seem to be without purpose). And yes, apparently the new law has also doubled the length of time for which the DEA can place substances on an emergency Schedule I status.
I know I have just asked a ton of questions (or maybe all of the questions exist only in my head but are confusing me to the point of spouting them off as a session of random incoherent rambling akin to something uttered during a bath salt-induced psychosis), but I guess I am just looking to be directed somewhere for accurate information, so any accurate information or direction would be superb. My main question is regarding when the new law is going to be enforced. Personally, I know of many convenience stores in my area that still carry and sell incense/potpourri/smoke blends and bath salts (okay, they're actually called 'pipe cleaner' now) but if the new law targets 'cannabimimetic agents' wouldn't that essentially eradicate any and all worthwhile incense blends? In other words, say, if someone were to have just sold me incense, I smoked it and got high -- all hypothetically, of course -- and let's assume that the high was produced at least somewhat via CB1 activity -- wouldn't this vendor that sold me the incense now be in violation of federal law?
SOMEBODY, PLEASE HELP.....!!
