Findings

Findings. The General Assembly finds the following: (1) Synthetic cathinones, currently a Schedule I controlled substance under State and federal law, are often labeled, marketed, and sold as various products: most notably, "bath salts", but also "plant food", "jewelry cleaner", "phone screen cleaner", and "carpet deodorizer". (2) Unlike traditional cosmetic bath salts, which are made to be added to bath water, toxic bath salt products have no legitimate use for bathing and are produced specifically for recreational drug abusers as substitutes for cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), and amphetamines. (3) Bath salt products are commonly sold online as well as at drug paraphernalia stores commonly known as "head" shops, tobacco shops, convenience stores, adult book stores, gas stations, and truck stops. (4) The abuse of synthetic stimulant drugs known as "bath salts" has become a major public health threat across the United States. (5) Case reports and clinical studies have shown that the use of synthetic cathinones can cause severe psychiatric symptoms and possibly death. (6) Forty-four states have passed laws prohibiting synthetic cathinones. (Source: P.A. 99-585, eff. 1-1-17.)