Protecting Kids from Candy-Flavored Drugs Act

Bill: 118-hr-757
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Banks, Jim [R-IN-3]
Introduced: 2023-02-02
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Child health

Child safety and welfare

Criminal procedure and sentencing

Drug trafficking and controlled substances

U.S. Sentencing Commission
Latest action: action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-02-02
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Protecting Kids from Candy-Flavored Drugs Act</b></p> <p>This bill establishes enhanced criminal penalties for certain federal drug offenses involving the manufacture or distribution of candy-flavored controlled substances or similar products for minors.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill imposes enhanced criminal penalties for a federal drug offense that involves manufacturing, creating, distributing, dispensing, or possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance listed in schedule I or II that is combined with a candy or drink, marketed to appear similar to a candy or drink, or modified by flavoring or coloring to appear similar to a candy or drink. To be subject to an enhanced penalty, the individual must have knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that the controlled substance will be distributed, dispensed, or sold to an individual who is under 18 years of age.</p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 757 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 2, 2023 Mr. Banks introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary , and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend the Controlled Substances Act to prohibit manufacturing or distributing candy-flavored controlled substances for minors, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Kids from Candy-Flavored Drugs Act . 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 et seq. ) is amended by inserting after section 418 the following: 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)— (1) by 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 ), if the contents, marketing, and packaging of the controlled substance have not been altered from the form approved by the Secretary; 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. . (b) Technical and conforming amendment The table of contents for the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 ( Public Law 91–513 ; 84 Stat. 1236) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 418 the following: Sec. 418a. Manufacturing or distributing candy-flavored controlled substances for minors. . (c) 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) ) if the defendant— (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.