I am writing regarding H.R. 1254, S. 605, S. 409, and S. 839, which have passed
legislative committees, and the similar H.R. 1571 still in committee.  These
bills would enact new prohibitions on synthetic cannabinoid and mephedrone
products by placing them in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

Along with adding to the public burden posed by high rates of imprisonment,
Schedule I placement would ban medical use and make it difficult even to
research possible medical uses of these drugs.  There's no evidence of any
looming crisis over either of these classes of substances, and Spice/K2 sales
have already been barred temporarily under a DEA "emergency order" whilst the
intended CSA process of studying a drug before making decisions about it is
carried out.  Failing to wait for the results and conclusions of such studies,
especially at a time when prohibition itself is increasingly coming into
question, seems uncalled for.

Please slow this process down by asking leadership to remove these bills from
the legislative calendar, and by voting against the bills if they come to
the floor.  An absolute and unquestioned policy of drugs prohibition is an
ill-conceived doctrine, as demonstrated in this instance by the rush in which
this legislation has been introduced.