BATAVIA
Schumer pushes DEA to ban new synthetic drugs after incidents at Batavia High School
Senator Charles Schumer is asking the DEA to add new synthetic drugs to the list of banned controlled substances.
Schumer held a press conference at Batavia High School this morning with local school and law enforcement officials to put pressure on the DEA to speed up the process and get synthetic substances like Cloud 9 added to the banned list.
Schumer says the DEA is dragging its feet and no new legislation is needed to add the synthetic substances to the list.
In September of 2014, Batavia High School Principal Scott Wilson says several students were reportedly acting strangely and medical assistance was needed after one student almost died.
It was eventually discovered that the students were using synthetic drugs in vaporizors and E-cigarettes to ingest substances like Cloud 9. Wilson says students were hiding the vaporizors above the ceiling tiles in the restrooms.
In December of 2014, two students in the Churchville Chili School District were also hospitalized after using synthetic drugs in E-cigarettes.
Currently, the substances are legal and being sold at corner stores and smoke shops.
Schumer says its time for Federal laws to catch up to synthetic drug makers who skirt around the law by changing the chemical make-up of the drugs.
Legislation passed in 2012 enables the DEA to ban a long list of chemical look a likes and Schumer says they can do this without adding any other legislation.
Schumer says these are powerful drugs that have severe side effects and a hazard to young people who do not know what they are ingesting.
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