The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 28 on enhancement of penalties for crimes involving synthetic drugs by Sen. Bohacek. This bill makes certain offenses involving synthetic drugs an enhancing circumstance at the penalty phase. It removes certain misdemeanor prosecutions concerning synthetic drugs and synthetic lookalike drugs from eligibility for conditional discharge (diversion).
As amended, it also allows for charging the act of dealing or manufacturing synthetic drugs that behave like a legend drug as the same level of offense that would be dealing or manufacturing the legend drug.
Representatives from the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council and the Attorney General’s Office testified in support of this bill. The amended bill passed 9-0.