My daughter Emily was an enormously kind soul with a bright future. She was the kind of person who spoke up when seeing injustices and the first to volunteer when people, animals, the earth and more needed help. After high school Emily planned to enter a joint program of study at MassArt and Wentworth Institute of Technology. I was so proud. A $5 tab took that future away. Emily died after ingesting a single dose of a synthetic hallucinogenic called 25i. The drug is finding its way into communities across the country and in many states there is nothing law enforcement can do.

Massachusetts, where Emily died, is one of those states. We must give law enforcement the ability to get 25i off our streets and prevent deaths like Emily’s. I started this petition to urge the Massachusetts legislature to pass H4484 making 25i illegal and giving police the authority they need to help stop the drug.

My name is Erin and I understand the power of synthetic drugs. Not just from losing my daughter, but because I am research biologist for a pharmaceutical company. These types of drugs are inconsistent in composition and how the body will respond. This is not marijuana or something similar you could argue is OK for recreational use. 25i can kill you in very small doses.

For my daughter, and others who have lost their lives, her body’s reaction was catastrophic. I sat by Emily’s side for 3 weeks, holding her hand, and praying for her strength to bring her back to us. She never came out of her medically induced coma. I never got to say goodbye to my amazing child.

I was shocked to find something with such devastating effects could be legal. While the Drug Enforcement Agency has it listed as an illegal substance, some states like Massachusetts do not have the drug legally classified as a controlled substance. This means law enforcement can’t do anything about the stopping the spread of 25i until the state law changes.

I love Emily and her spirit lives on in the hearts of the many people she touched during her tragically brief life. Getting this law passed is one way I can ensure Emily continues to help others. Please join me in getting states to help stop 25i, starting with Massachusetts. Sign and share my petition calling on the Massachusetts legislature to pass H4484 making 25i illegal and giving police the authority they need to help stop the drug.