ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives today passed House Bill 199 in a vote of 150 to 9, showing tremendous bipartisan support for the measure. Introduced by State Representative Jay Neal (R-LaFayette), this legislation bans the sale and possession of several dangerous chemicals marketed as “bath salts,” but actually designed to mimic the effects of cocaine and methamphetamines.
“The House took a significant step today to get a dangerous designer drug off the shelves of the corner convenience store,” said Representative Neal. “While the key to success in reducing drug use is education, prevention, and treatment, we must also take appropriate steps to limit availability. This bill does that.”
Narcotic bath salts recently became available in many Georgia smoke shops. Users of the substances snort, smoke, or inject the compounds to get a speed-like high, but often experience extreme paranoia, suicidal tendencies, hallucinations, or in some cases even death.
HB 199 would remove these “bath salts” from the shelves of Georgia shops by banning the five chemicals that give the substances their narcotic effects. Specifically, the following compounds would be added to the state list of Schedule I Narcotics: Methyenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), Methylmethcathinone (Mephedrone), Methylenedioxymethcathinone (Methylone), Methoxymethcathinone, and Fluoromethcathinone. These chemicals all belong to the chemical family of cathinones, a group of drugs related to amphetamine compounds like ecstasy.
Commonly manufactured in China and India, the chemicals targeted by HB 199 are currently sold online and in stores throughout the state as plant fertilizer, insect repellant, and fake “bath salts.” Common brand names of the drug are Ivory Wave, White China, Infinity, Cloud-9, White Dove, and Ocean. These can be purchased for as little as $20 a pack.
“Fake bath salt products have proven to produce extremely harmful effects in humans. Under the right conditions, the effects can be deadly! We are pleased to see that the State of Georgia is taking a proactive approach to ban this group of chemicals,” said Dr. Gaylord Lopez, Director of the Georgia Poison Center.
Due to their recent appearance on the market, narcotic “bath salts” are currently unregulated in most states and anyone, including children, can legally buy them in stores. However, their availability is quickly changing. The substances have already been banned in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Israel. Louisiana and Florida just recently banned them, and several other states, including Kentucky and Mississippi, are in the process of passing legislation similar to HB 199.
The introduction of this legislation to ban narcotic “bath salts” is not the first time Rep. Neal has worked to combat the harmful effects of drugs in Georgia. Last year, he introduced HB 1309 to ban K2 synthetic marijuana in Georgia, which was signed into law on May 24, 2010. Additionally, Rep. Neal has helped sponsor Addiction Recovery Awareness Day at the State Capitol for the past three years and is currently the Co-Chairman of the Georgia Behavioral Health Legislative Caucus.
HB 199 will be sent to the Senate for consideration. For more information on HB 199, please click here.
Representative Jay Neal represents the citizens of District 1, which includes portions of Catoosa and Walker counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2004, and is currently the Chairman of the State Institutions & Property Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Economic Development & Tourism, Insurance, and Public Safety & Homeland Security committees.
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