NAME CHANGE: Any reference in any law, regulation, order, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 'National Institute on Drug Abuse', the 'National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism', the 'National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism', and the 'National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse' shall be deemed to be a reference to the 'National Institute on Diseases of Addiction', the 'National Institute on Alcohol Disorders and Health', the 'National Advisory Council on Alcohol Disorders and Health', and the 'National Advisory Council on Diseases of Addiction', respectively.
Source: Recognizing Addiction as a Disease Act (S.1011) 07-S1011 on Mar 28, 2007
Exempt industrial hemp from marijuana laws.
Harkin signed Industrial Hemp Farming Act
Congressional Summary:Amends the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of "marihuana." Defines "industrial hemp" to mean the plant Cannabis sativa and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a THC concentration of not more than 0.3%.
Argument in favor (Sen. Ron Wyden):
Members of Congress hear a lot about how dumb regulations are hurting economic growth and job creation. The current ban on growing industrial hemp is hurting job creation in rural America and increasing our trade deficit. This bill will end this ridiculous regulation. Right now, the US is importing over $10 million in hemp products--a crop that US farmers could be profitably growing right here at home, if not for government rules prohibiting it. Now, even though hemp and marijuana come from the same species of plant, there are major differences between them. The Chihuahua and St. Bernard come from the same species, too, but no one is going
to confuse them.
Argument in opposition (Drug Enforcement Agency):
The DEA regulatory opposition to industrial hemp production is based upon:- The difficulty in distinguishing legitimate hemp with low narcotic concentration from illicit cannabis, and
- the perception that industrial hemp advocates have a hidden agenda of favoring legalization of marijuana.
Argument in opposition (DrugWatch.org 10/30/2013):
- The DEA ban on THC in hemp food products, though characterized as a drug war issue, is, in fact, a food safety issue. No state or country has scientifically established the safety of food products made from hemp.
- Smoking hemp/marijuana with a low THC level of 0.25 percent could result in psychological effects on inexperienced users (children, for example).
- Supporting industrial hemp/marijuana sends an ambivalent and harmful message to youth and others regarding marijuana.
Source: S.359/H.R.525 14_S0359 on Feb 14, 2013
Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use.
Harkin co-sponsored requiring chemical resellers to certify against meth use
Sen. FEINSTEIN: This act is designed to address problems that the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, has identified in the implementation of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005. The bill that I introduce today would:
- clarify that all retailers, including mail order retailers, who sell products that contain chemicals often used to make methamphetamine--like ephedrine, pseudoepedrine and phenylpropanolamine--must self-certify that they have trained their personnel and will comply with the Combat Meth Act's requirements;
- require distributors to sell these products only to retailers who have certified that they will comply with the law;
- require the DEA to publish the list of all retailers who have filed self-certifications, on the DEA's website;
- and clarify that any retailer who negligently fails to file self-certification as required, may be subject to civil fines and penalties.
The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act that we passed last year has been a resounding success. The number of methamphetamine labs in the United States has declined dramatically now that the ingredients used to make methamphetamine are harder to get. Fewer meth labs means more than just less illegal drug production. In 2003, 3,663 children were reported exposed to toxic meth labs nationwide--but so far this year, the number of exposed children is only 319. This is a common-sense bill, designed to strengthen the implementation of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act. This bill would create incentives to ensure that the self-certification process of the law is made both effective and enforceable. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Source: Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act (S.2071) 2007-S2071 on Sep 19, 2007
Page last updated: Jan 09, 2015
