Alaska State Senate passed Senate Bill 173 last week which was sponsored by Senator Kevin Meyer (R-Anchorage).
The bill aims to stop the sale of illicit synthetic drugs by banning misleading statements on packaging.
Currently, the synthetic drugs, which are commonly used as alternatives to marijuana are being sold legally in stores statewide as potpourri and incense.
Sen. Meyer told KSRM that they’ve tried to ban the chemical makeup of the products in the past, to no avail.
Sen. Meyer (R-Anchorage): “The spice for example, markets itself as incense. Clearly not incense, you don’t usually pay $20 for a package of incense and these packages don’t say where they are manufactured or whats in the package and it may say that the substance will make you high. This approach rather than going after the chemical compounds like we have in the past and then they just simply change one or two of the chemicals and continue to sell it legally, this is going more towards how they market and package the substance.”
Meyer says under this bill, a business could be fined upwards of $500 for each package on the shelf.
Sen. Meyer (R-Anchorage): “So like if a store has a box of 24, a state patrol could go in and fine them $500 for each package. Its mirrored after the Anchorage ordinance which is actually where we got it but I’m trying to push it statewide. Anchorage passed it in January and its been very effective just in the short time that its been in effect in Anchorage.”
Sen. Meyer did conclude that with the possibility of legalized marijuana in the State of Alaska would likely cut down if not abolish the use of these synthetic drugs.
