On June 24, 2011, Governor Walker signed Senate Bill 54, relating to controlled substances, into law as 2011 Act 31.

Act 31makes the following synthetic cannabinoids controlled substances in the Wisconsin Uniform Controlled Substances Act: Cannabicyclohexanol (tb), CP47,497 (te), HU-210 (th), JWH-018 (tL), JWH-073 (tp), JWH-081 (tr), JWH-200 (tu) and JWH-250 (ty).   Act 31 also makes the analogs of these synthetic cannabinoids controlled substances.  Analogs are substances that have similar chemical structures and similar physiological effects.   Analogs were added to the law to prevent the development of new substances that differ slightly in their chemical structure from those that are listed as controlled substances, but still have similar physiological effects.

Synthetic cannabinoids are often referred to as synthetic marijuana, K2, Spice, etc. and, prior to Act 31, had been legally sold at gas stations, smoke shops, and convenience stores.  Act 31 provides a statewide law prohibiting the manufacture, distribution, delivery, and possession of synthetic cannabinoids.  The act also grants municipalities the authority to enact their own ordinances providing a forfieture for a first violation of possession of a synthetic cannabinoid.

In addition, Act 31 makes two powereful stimulants (and their analogs), commonly refered to as MDPV and Mephedrone, schedule I controlled substances in the Wisconsin Controlled Substances Act.  The act also controlls the analogs of MDPV and Mephedrone.

Prior to Act 31, MDPV and Mephedrone were also legally sold in gas stations, smoke shops, and convenience stores as “bath salts” under the names of Ivory Wave, Purple Wave, Vanilla Sky, etc.  MDPV and Mephedrone are powerful stimulant drugs reportedly having four times the potency of the stimulant Methylphenidate (Ritalin).

Finally, Act 31 controls 2C-I and its analogs as a schedule I controlled substance in the Wisconsin Uniform Controlled Substances Act.   2C-I is a hallucinogenic substance.   

Act 31 will take effect on the day after it’s published.  The date of publication may not be more than 10 working days after the date of enactment.  Since the Governor signed the act June 24, it will be published no later than July 8, making the act effective no later than July 9th.