Louisiana governor bans fake bath salts

[The Straight Story]

Louisiana governor bans fake bath salts

COVINGTON, LA (WAFB) - Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Thursday morning it is now illegal to possess, manufacture and produce fake bath salts in the state of Louisiana.

Law enforcement officers said the white powdery substance has led to a number of medical emergencies in the past month alone.

Doctors said it is to blame for the deaths of three people in Louisiana and has sent dozens more to the hospital. The drug reportedly has the same effects of cocaine and ecstasy.

The product is sold at many gas stations. Though it states "Not for Human Consumption" on the package, law enforcement knows it as the "poor man's meth."

Officials said people who have abused the drugs are being treated for extreme paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, agitation, hypertension, chest pain, headache and many report suicidal thoughts.

http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=13795525

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. They are talking of proposing a law here in Kansas too

Lunacy.

[MattBaggins]

4. What's lunacy, the proposed law

or the fact that businesses are trying to get away with packaging up drugs and calling them "bath salts".

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. Maybe you need to read the article again

:eyes:

[MattBaggins]

9. What do I need to read again?

Some Asian companies are manufacturing new drugs and selling them off as "bath salts" to get away with it.

[Jamastiene]

2. I take it Epsom Salt is still legal, right?

I sure hope they don't go for the Epsom salt. I need it for my skin.

Are people like using the fake bath salts as a drug instead of in a bath or what? That seems incredibly risky to me.

[MattBaggins]

5. No the stuff is drugs being sold under a cover up use.

It would be like packaging up cocaine and trying to sell it a "rinse agent" for your dishwasher and trying to get away with it.

[Little Star]

3. Wow! I have never heard of fake bath salts before....

Ya learn something new on DU everyday!

[TwilightGardener]

13. I know--never heard of it either. My question is, who figured out that

these were drugs? Do junkies at gas stations normally buy bath salts to take baths with and realized that, HEY, these are the same as cocaine and meth!! I don't get it.

[hlthe2b]

6. Ok, I read all linked articles...

Finally at the end of the third article linked I saw mention of the ingredients that included water softeners, Epsom salts (which is common to true bath salts) and other inert ingredients. Whether these were actually intended to be "bath salts" or that is someone's ridiculous nickname for this new synthetic drug is unclear as well as whether it actually contains epsom salts and what, exactly is the chemical causing the concern.

Totally incomprehensible reporting on this issue. I guess I'll have to go to the toxiocology literature and poison control if I want any kind of factual reporting. :eyes:

[MattBaggins]

7. They have drugs in them.

http://www.gov.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&articleID=2633

In total, there are six chemicals being added to the list of Schedule I drugs. Specifically, the chemicals added by rule are 3,4-Methylenedioxymethcathinone (Methylone), 3,4-Methyenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), 4-Methylmethcathinone (Mephedrone), 4-methoxymethcathinone, 4-Fluoromethcathinone and 3-Fluoromethcathinone. By adding these chemicals to the controlled dangerous substance act as Schedule I drugs, the possession, manufacturing or distribution of these drugs will carry penalties similar to those of heroin, which could mean up to 30 years in prison.

I could be wrong but I thought they were not cutting these with epsom salts. Epsom salts are a cathartic and you would have a bunch of stoned people running around shitting themselves.

[hlthe2b]

10. One article stated it was on the ingredient "label"

but of course, that is likely just part of the sham. Thanks for the chemical specifics. I'm still pissed at the lousy reporting on this. But, then I am generally nowadays.

[Jamastiene]

11. That wouldn't be pretty. n/t

[LynneSin]

12. That last sentence gave me a horrible visual

:scared: