SB0536 Summary

• Creates new offense of dealing in synthetic drugs and synthetic drug lookalike substances with penalties ranging from Class A infraction to Class D felony depending on circumstances, amount, and prior convictions.

• Defines "synthetic drug" to include over 50 specific compounds and chemical classes of designer drugs, plus any compounds determined to be synthetic drugs by rule adoption.

• Establishes "synthetic drug lookalike substance" as any non-synthetic substance reasonably appearing to be a synthetic drug or intended for consumption to cause intoxication, excluding food, alcohol, legend drugs, tobacco, and dietary supplements.

• Authorizes attorney general to demand immediate access to records during synthetic drug investigations and allows courts to suspend retail merchant certificates and order closure of properties involved in synthetic drug sales.

• Amends intoxicated driving definition in IC 9-13-2-86 and IC 35-46-9-2 to include impairment from "any other substance" not limited to controlled substances, excluding food, tobacco, and dietary supplements.