dark day in mudville

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03.27.06 - U.S. Anabolic Steroid Punishments Increased!
The U.S. Sentencing Commission has published notice of temporary
"emergency" (i.e., immediate) amendments to the federal anabolic
steroid sentencing guidelines. Henceforth, injectable and oral
steroids will be quantified for punishment in a 1:1 ratio to other
Schedule III drugs, resulting in a twenty-fold measurement increase
for injectable steroid units and a fifty-fold increase for oral
steroid units. Steroids in other forms ("e.g., patch, topical
cream, aerosol") will be reasonably estimated based on a
consideration of 25mg as one unit. Additionally, sentencing
enhancements will apply in cases involving distribution to
"athletes" or where coaches use their positions to influence
athletes to use steroids , as well as in cases involving "masking
agents." While likely to impact dealers more than personal users,
the new 1:1 ratio nonetheless ignores fundamental differences
between steroid usage and volume patterns as compared to other
Schedule III drugs. Other potential problems with the amendments
include the lack of any reference to potency in oral or injectable
steroids, potentially leading to black market adaptations to
circumvent the amendment (e.g., the creation of high potency "mega-
pills") as well as the lack of any knowledge requirement involving
distribution (e.g., via the Internet) to unidentifiable customers
who may turn out to be athletes. It is expected that the revisions
will be made permanent by Congress in November. [For further
information, see the written testimony of Rick Collins to the
Sentencing Commission, the transcript of his appearance before the
Commisssion, the Report of the USSC Steroids Working Group, and the
Commission's Notice of Amendment to the guidelines.]

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really surprised this got no commentary