Protecting Kids from Candy-Flavored Drugs Act of 2017

To amend the Controlled Substances Act to provide enhanced penalties for marketing candy-flavored controlled substances to minors. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Kids from Candy-Flavored Drugs Act of 2017 2. Offenses involving candy-flavored controlled substances manufactured or distributed for minors (a) In general Part D of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 841 418a. Manufacturing or distributing candy-flavored controlled substances for minors (a) Except as provided in subsection (c) and in section 418, 419, or 420, a person shall be subject to the penalty described in subsection (b) if the person violates section 401(a)(1) by— (1) manufacturing, creating, distributing, dispensing, or possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance listed in schedule I or II that is— (A) combined with a candy or beverage product; (B) marketed or packaged to appear similar to a candy or beverage product; or (C) modified by flavoring or coloring to appear similar to a candy or beverage product; and (2) knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that the controlled substance will be distributed, dispensed, or sold to a person under 18 years of age. (b) The penalty described in this subsection is— (1) in the case of a first offense involving the same controlled substance and schedule, an additional term of imprisonment of not more than 10 years; and (2) in the case of a second or subsequent offense involving the same controlled substance and schedule, an additional term of imprisonment of not more than 20 years. (c) Subsection (a) shall not apply to any controlled substance that— (1) has been approved by the Secretary under section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 355 (2) has been altered at the direction of a practitioner who is acting for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice. . (b) Technical and conforming amendment The table of contents for the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 ( Public Law 91–513 Sec. 418a. Manufacturing or distributing candy-flavored controlled substances for minors. . 3. Sentencing Guidelines Pursuant to its authority under section 994 of title 28, United States Code, and in accordance with this section, the United States Sentencing Commission shall amend and review the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements to ensure that the guidelines provide for a penalty enhancement of not less than 2 offense levels for a violation of section 401(a) of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 841(a) (1) manufactures, creates, distributes, dispenses, or possesses with intent to distribute a controlled substance listed in schedule I or II that is— (A) combined with a candy or beverage product; (B) marketed or packaged to appear similar to a candy or beverage product; or (C) modified by flavoring or coloring to appear similar to a candy or beverage product; and (2) knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, that the controlled substance will be distributed, dispensed, or sold to a person under 18 years of age.

Summary: Protecting Kids from Candy-Flavored Drugs Act of 2017 This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to prohibit any person from manufacturing, creating, distributing, dispensing, or possessing with intent to distribute a schedule I or II controlled substance that is combined with a candy or beverage product, marketed or packaged to appear similar to a candy or beverage product, or modified by flavoring or coloring to appear similar to a candy or beverage product. Such individual must know or have reasonable cause to believe that the controlled substance will be distributed, dispensed, or sold to a person under 18 years of age. The bill imposes enhanced criminal penalties for such violations in addition to the penalty for the underlying offense. The bill exempts any controlled substance that: (1) has been approved by the Department of Health and Human Services under the drug approval process if the contents, marketing, and packaging of the controlled substance have not been altered from the approved form; or (2) has been altered at the direction of a practitioner who is acting for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice. The bill directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend and review its guidelines and policy statements to ensure that the guidelines provide for a penalty enhancement of not less than two offense levels for a violation of this bill.