Legislative Initiatives

House Bill 8: Rep. John Tilley (sponsor)

An ACT relating to illegal drugs and declaring an emergency.

Amends KRS 218A.010 to include additional substances within the definition of synthetic drugs; amend KRS 218A.050 to include additional substances within the definition of Schedule 1 controlled substances.

• include synthetic drug activity within the offense of unlawful transaction with a minor in the second degree.
  
• include provisions modifying the time periods during which certain methamphetamine offenders are prohibited from purchasing ephedrine-based products and to preserve the prescriptive authority of various practitioners in the event of a rescheduling of hydrocodone-based drugs.
      
     

HB481: Representative John Tilley (sponsor) 

Effective Date:  April 11, 2012

Designed to close gaps in the synthetic drug laws.

  
This bill:

• increases penalty for 2nd offense trafficking in synthetic marijuana, making it a felony for the 1st time 
• allows asset forfeiture to apply to synthetic drugs
• allows ODCP to assist CHFS in identifying chemicals to be banned by administrative regulation

Governor Beshear Signs Emergency Regulations Making Synthetic Cannabinoids Scheduled 1 Substance

SB3: Senator Robert Stivers (sponsor) 

Effective Date:  July 12, 2012

Sets out to make pseudoephedrine available by prescription only. 

However, as a result of compromise, this bill: 

• reduces monthly limit from 9 grams in a 30 day period to 7.2 grams in a 30 day period
• lowers the annual limit from 108 grams to 24 grams (which translates to enough for use during spring & fall – for seasonal allergies)
• creates offender block list – an individual convicted of a methamphetamine related offense is prohibited from buying a pseudoephedrine product for a period of 5 years after completion of sentence