§329-4  Duties of the commission.  Thecommission shall:

(1)  Act in an advisory capacity to the department ofpublic safety relating to the scheduling of substances provided in part II ofthis chapter, by recommending the addition, deletion, or rescheduling of allsubstances enumerated in part II of this chapter.

(2)  Act in an advisory capacity to the department ofpublic safety relating to establishment and maintenance of the classes ofcontrolled substances, as provided in part II of this chapter.

(3)  Assist the department of health in coordinatingall action programs of community agencies (state, county, military, or private)specifically focused on the problem of drug abuse.

(4)  Assist the department of health in carrying outeducational programs designed to prevent and deter abuse of controlledsubstances.

(5)  Encourage research on abuse of controlledsubstances.  In connection with such research, and in furtherance of theenforcement of this chapter, it may, with the approval of the director of health:

(A)  Establish methods to assess accurately theeffects of controlled substances and to identify and characterize controlledsubstances with potential for abuse;

(B)  Make studies and undertake programs ofresearch to:

(i)  Develop new or improved approaches,techniques, systems, equipment, and devices to strengthen the enforcement ofthis chapter;

(ii)  Determine patterns of abuse of controlledsubstances and the social effects thereof; and

(iii)  Improve methods for preventing, predicting,understanding, and dealing with the abuse of controlled substances.

(6)  Create public awareness and understanding of theproblems of drug abuse.

(7)  Sit in an advisory capacity to the governor andother state departments as may be appropriate on matters relating to thecommission’s work.

(8)  Act in an advisory capacity to the director ofhealth in substance abuse matters under chapter 321, part XVI.  For thepurposes of this paragraph, “substance” shall include alcohol in addition toany drug on schedules I through IV of this chapter and any substance whichincludes in its composition volatile organic solvents. [L 1972, c 10, pt of §1and am c 114, §2(3); am L 1975, c 190, §3; am L 1990, c 281, §5]