Adjust Text Size
For Immediate Release
June 28, 2011
Contact: David Atkinson
717-787-6535
 

Smucker Supports Ban On "Bath Salts" And Other Synthetic Drugs 

One of the chief challenges in fighting drugs is keeping criminal law current with the chemistry of new substances.

The problem is illustrated by synthetic marijuana and cocaine and products derived from the hallucinogenic plant salvia.  Substances marketed as "bath salts" may sound harmless, but they produce a powerful high and skirt existing anti-drug laws.  As their availability has spread, so have reports of paranoid and violent behavior on the part of users.

At the urging of the law enforcement community, quick legislative action occurred to deal with this emerging community concern.  Governor Tom Corbett has signed into law a measure I voted for that bans possession and sales of these synthetic drugs.

Although the ban takes effect August 23, Governor Corbett has asked store owners to stop selling these products immediately.

While there has been a slowdown in legislation increasing penalties or upgrading crimes, due to public concerns about rising correctional costs and prison overcrowding, this was a situation that clearly warranted action.