Texas Sen. Perry Continues Fight Against Synthetic Drugs

LUBBOCK — Today, Senator Charles Perry filed SB 461 to give law enforcement the ability to tackle the issue of synthetic drugs from the angle of mislabeling.

Senators Kevin Eltife (R – Tyler), Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D – McAllen) and Jose Rodriguez (D – El Paso) have joint authored this bi-partisan legislation to help solve this critical issue.

“It is unethical for a company to mislabel products in an effort to skirt the law and sell dangerous substances to our youth,” said Senator Charles Perry. “We banned these drugs across the state in 2011, it is time to close the loopholes and ban these substances once and for all.”

Due to the complex chemical combinations, these substances have been known to produce side effects including hallucination, severe agitation, elevated heart rate and/or blood pressure, chest pains, blackouts, tremors, seizures, cardiac infarction, and in some cases death.

Several communities, including Lubbock and Abilene, have found success prosecuting offenders on the merits of mislabeling. Perry’s latest bill attacks synthetic drugs from this angle.

“On the heels of another arrest made in Lubbock County utilizing labeling, our organization feels this will be of great assistance in removing this poison from Texas,” said Jeannine Kelley, leader of Warrior Against Synthetic Pot – Lubbock (WASP).

Previously, Senator Perry filed SB 199 which will add additional known chemicals to the Texas Controlled Substance Act and include a controlled substance analogue provision that will act as a ‘catch all’ for drugs with substantially similar chemical composition or intended to produce substantially similar effects.

“Between our two bills, it should be very difficult for dealers and manufactures to skirt the law in Texas,” continued Perry. “I look forward to working closely with my fellow legislators to pass this legislation in the coming months.”