Synthetic pot, cocaine 'bath salts' targeted by Missouri legislature

State legislators have taken another step in addressing the growing problems associated with the use of synthetic cannabinoids as well as the so-called bath salts that are being touted as synthetic cocaine. On Thursday, April 7, the Missouri House of Representatives passed House Bill 641 by a vote of 145-12.

According to a press release from the bill's sponsor, Representative Ward Franz (R-West Plains) the bill, if passed by the senate and signed by the governor, would add several of the synthetic substances used in certain products "to the list of Schedule I controlled substances and make possession" of them a class C felony.

The bill comes after the legislature passed a similar measure last year that banned a synthetic form of cannabinoid that is sprayed onto herbs and sold as an incense type of product. The product was known as K2 and had various trade names like "Spice." Smoking the chemically sprayed vegetative matter mimics the high of marijuana. Before that law went fully into effect the manufacturers of the substances changed the chemical make up of the product and began to sell several varieties of the altered product and skirt the new law.

The new law is aimed at the changed compounds and also targets the growing market for the so-called bath salts that are being sold as an entirely legal sort of synthetic cocaine. Both products have been raising concerns among health care organizations and law enforcement agencies, and many have begun to take action. Franz said, "the public has made it clear that they want this issue addressed. I am glad Missouri continues to lead the way in this war."

Some local agencies have already taken steps to curb the use of these substances in their areas. On Monday, April 4, in an area just outside St. Louis, the St. Charles County Council voted to ban the synthetic drug contained in the bath salts which are at the center of this issue. That county's ban was enacted at the request of the St. Charles County Sheriff and a suburban St. Louis County health director. The ban is immediate, according to the Associated Press. Other entities are getting in on the fight to ban these substances.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers supports and represents many of the nation's poison control centers and reported alarming rates of the adverse affects of these chemicals last year and increased rates of calls to poison centers this year.

The synthetic marijuana goes by many names: "K2," "Spice," "Sence," "Skunk" and "Zohai" are just a few of them. Regardless of the name they are having ill effects on the people using them. In 2010, the AAPCC reports receiving more than 3,000 calls to poison control centers concerning those products containing the synthetic compounds. They also report that as of February 2011 they had already received 457 calls.

The numbers of people calling the poison centers because of the chemicals contained in the bath salts or synthetic cocaine are even more alarming. These products also go by colorful names like: "Red Dove," "Blue Silk," "Zoom" and "Bloom." According to the AAPCC, poison centers across the country "took 302 calls about the products," in 2010. The same organization reports having taken 1,511 such calls already this year.

There is an increased use of these substances, partly because people on probation or parole think they can use them and be safe from drug testing. There is a test for these substances. As the problems worsen, the test will become more widespread. Law enforcement agencies can only check the type of substance they find to see if it is the kind that has already been banned. If it is not, they have no choice but to return it to the owner regardless of the harm it may do to them.

The bill just passed by the House of Representatives must go to the Missouri Senate next.

Senator David Pearce (R-Warrensburg) of the 31st District said he would certainly support the bill and that he thought "there would be a lot of support for it" on both sides of the aisle. "I think it is an important bill," he said and it is a purely "bi-partisan issue" that should get a lot of support throughout the Senate. Pearce also thought that given the time frame, it would not be a problem getting the Senate approved bill onto the governor's desk in time to be signed and put into law before this legislative session is over in May.

Pearce also thought that the governor would sign the bill as long as it didn't contain any surprises. He said he believes that as a former attorney general, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon would likely want to make an impact on this issue; but the governor would scrutinize the bill closely before deciding support it. Nixon spokesman Scott Holste said the governor would want to make sure there weren't any attachments to the bill that didn't pertain to the issue before signing.

Poison control centers are located across the country and their trained personnel are medical professionals who know how to react to poison exposure of all types. They are available for free, confidential services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. For questions about these poisons or any others call a poison control center at (800) 222-1222.