§329-58  Education and research.  (a) The department of public safety shall carry out educational programs designedto prevent and determine misuse and abuse of controlled substances.  Inconnection with these programs it may:

(1)  Promote better recognition of the problems ofmisuse and abuse of controlled substances within the regulated industry andamong interested groups and organizations;

(2)  Assist the regulated industry and interestedgroups and organizations in contributing to the reduction of misuse and abuseof controlled substances;

(3)  Consult with interested groups and organizationsto aid them in solving administrative and organizational problems;

(4)  Evaluate procedures, projects, techniques, andcontrols conducted or proposed as part of educational programs on misuse andabuse of controlled substances;

(5)  Disseminate the result of research on misuse andabuse of controlled substances to promote a better public understanding of whatproblems exist and what can be done to combat them;

(6)  Assist in the education and training of state andlocal law enforcement officials in their efforts to control misuse and abuse ofcontrolled substances.

(b)  The department of public safety mayauthorize persons engaged in research on the use and effects of controlledsubstances to withhold the names and other identifying characteristics ofindividuals who are the subjects of the research.  Persons who obtain thisauthorization are not compelled in any civil, criminal, administrative,legislative, or other proceeding to identify the individuals who are subjectsof research for which the authorization was obtained.

(c)  The department of public safety mayauthorize the possession and distribution of controlled substances by personsengaged in research.  Persons who obtain this authorization are exempt fromstate prosecution for possession and distribution of controlled substances tothe extent of the authorization. [L 1972, c 10, pt of §1; am L 1990, c 281,§10; am L Sp 1993, c 8, §54; am L 2004, c 216, §38]