Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, January 26, 2012
(INDIANAPOLIS)(TM) - A committee passed legislation Tuesday that is meant to help police crack down on a synthetic drug known as “bath salts,” sending the bill to the full Senate for consideration.
The Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters Committee, chaired by Sen. Brent Steele, R-Bedford, unanimously passed Senate Bill 234, after approving an amendment.
"The definitions we now have for compounds used in these dangerous synthetic drugs will keep us ahead of the periodic changes the chemists concocting them make every year," Steele said in a prepared statement. "By banning these compounds, our bill will help keep them out of the hands of Hoosiers and save lives."
Sen. James Merritt, R-Indianapolis, said the amendment granted some strong power to the state's Board of Pharmacy to define the synthetic drugs - including bath salts - that would be illegal.
The change is meant to address concerns that if the law defines the drug - by including the known chemical formula - chemists will simply make minor changes so the resulting product doesn't fit the old definition.
Under the amended bill, police could report new formulas to the pharmacy board, which could take action to add them to the list of drugs considered illegal.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.