Senate Bill 57 — sponsored by State Senator Ron Alting, R-Lafayette criminalizes synthetic marijuana, Salvia and synthetic stimulants that are currently sold under the ―not for human consumption‖ label. The full 22-page bill, which includes four pages of chemical compounds, bans the substances that are found in the latest wave of synthetic stimulants to hit the market — Bath Salts and K2/Spice
The bill targeted K2/Spice, a blend of herbs and spices laced with a synthetic compound similar to the psychoactive substance in marijuana. However, with recent crack downs across the county by state and local governments Bath Salts — which mimic the effects of cocaine, ecstasy and LSD — emerged as the next designer drug marketed and sold in gas stations and convenience stores across Indiana as ―not for human consumption.‖
The bill included every compound its authors, including Sen. Alting knew of at the time that were being sold. However, designer drug makers have countered legislation and local ordinances by slightly altering the chemical compounds, attempting to leave them outside the reach of the law enforcement.
Bath Salt cases in Indiana are on the rise, the Indiana Poison Control Center reported 170 cases early last week, by Friday, June 24 over 240 cases had been reported.
Fort Wayne was in the news with published reports of hospital visits from people using Bath Salts; In Greenfield five teens were arrested for robbery and the money they are accused of stealing according to Greenfield police was to be used to buy synthetic stimulants – Bath Salts.
Bath salts are being sold under a variety of names, including Ivory Wave, Purple Wave, Red Dove, White Dove, Blue Silk, Zoom, Bloom, Cloud Nine, Charge +, Ocean Snow, Lunar Wave, Vanilla Sky, White Lightening, Scarface, Snow Leopard, Tranquility, Eight Ballz and Hurricane Charlie, White Rush, Pure Ivory. The chemicals marketed as plant food most commonly sell under the name Molly’s Plant Food, but other versions are called Lil Butterfly and Yellow Jacket. The products cost far more than actual bath salts used in the bathroom or plant food, with prices ranging from $35 to $50 per 50-milligram packet. This packet is roughly the size of a thimble.
Many states have recently passed laws making bath salts illegal. Indiana joins Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon and West Virginia. At least a dozen more states are considering such legislation.
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