STATE HOUSE - The House Committee on Judiciary will hold a hearing Thursday (May 7) on legislation that is designed to halt the illegal use of "Special K", the street name for ketamine hydrochloride, a powerful animal tranquilizer that causes hallucinations, nightmares, delirium, and violent irrational responses. The drug has become popular nationally among teenagers and young adults especially at all-night dance parties called "raves".
The legislation ('98-S 2039) passed the Senate April 21on an unanimous vote. It was introduced by Sen. Thomas J. Izzo of Cranston, who is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare. The Izzo bill, which is supported by Atty. Gen. Jeffrey B. Pine, would make the unauthorized possession, distribution, and manufacture of ketamine hydrochloride a criminal offense.
"This bill is preventive legislation," said Senator Izzo. "There is no sign of widespread use of 'Special K' among our young people. At the same time, law enforcement officials are at a disadvantage because possession or use of ketamine hydrochloride is not illegal in Rhode Island. My bill will make the drug a controlled substance with appropriate penalties for illegal possession and distribution."
Information published on the Internet by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America reports that ketamine hydrochloride was first synthesized by a pharmaceutical company in the early 1960s. Since then, it has been widely used as a tranquilizer by veterinarians in pet surgery. In the 1970s powdered ketamine emerged as a human recreational drug and was known in the 1980s underground club scene as "Vitamin K". It resurfaced as "Special K" in the 1990s in the rave all-night dance scene.
Senator Izzo said that the General Assembly is not the only legislature to recognize the dangers posed by the "Special K" phenomenon. To date, legislatures in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Illinois have made illegal the unauthorized possession or use of ketamine hydrochloride.
The Judiciary Committee hearing will be held in Room 204 on the second floor of the State House at the conclusion of Thursday's House session, which begins at 3 p.m.
