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Dover, Del. —
Legislation that would permanently outlaw the designer drug commonly known as “bath salts” breezed through the Senate Thursday.
With little discussion, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 160 with a vote of 21-0. It will now move to the House for deliberation.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Bethany Hall-Long (D-Middletown) and cosponsored by Rep. Rebecca Walker (D-Middletown), would ban the sale and use of bath salts in Delaware and would redefine the legal definition of designer drugs to cover synthetic versions now on the state’s list of controlled substances.
“Bath salts” became prevalent in Delaware last spring after hospitals and law enforcement agencies reported an increase in violent crimes across the state associated with the drug.
Officials say the drug is extremely dangerous, inciting paranoia, violence and bizarre behavior by its user.
Legislators are looking to get the bill passed and signed into law before the month’s end, when the temporary “bath salt” ban issued by Gov. Jack Markell in the fall is set to expire.
Since the ban was put in place in September, medical and law enforcement officials have reported a decline in bath-salt related incidents.
If signed into law, those found in possession of “bath salts” would be charged with a misdemeanor, but those found in possession with intent to distribute the drug could face up to eight years in prison. Factors such as prior offenses, resisting arrest or committing a drug-related crime near a school or park could up the sentence.
Hall-Long said she was pleased to see her fellow senators take this initiative seriously and take the steps needed to keep these drugs off the streets.
“This is a step in the right direction,” she said.
Legislation that would permanently outlaw the designer drug commonly known as “bath salts” breezed through the Senate Thursday.
With little discussion, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 160 with a vote of 21-0. It will now move to the House for deliberation.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Bethany Hall-Long (D-Middletown) and cosponsored by Rep. Rebecca Walker (D-Middletown), would ban the sale and use of bath salts in Delaware and would redefine the legal definition of designer drugs to cover synthetic versions now on the state’s list of controlled substances.
“Bath salts” became prevalent in Delaware last spring after hospitals and law enforcement agencies reported an increase in violent crimes across the state associated with the drug.
Officials say the drug is extremely dangerous, inciting paranoia, violence and bizarre behavior by its user.
Legislators are looking to get the bill passed and signed into law before the month’s end, when the temporary “bath salt” ban issued by Gov. Jack Markell in the fall is set to expire.
Since the ban was put in place in September, medical and law enforcement officials have reported a decline in bath-salt related incidents.
If signed into law, those found in possession of “bath salts” would be charged with a misdemeanor, but those found in possession with intent to distribute the drug could face up to eight years in prison. Factors such as prior offenses, resisting arrest or committing a drug-related crime near a school or park could up the sentence.
Hall-Long said she was pleased to see her fellow senators take this initiative seriously and take the steps needed to keep these drugs off the streets.
“This is a step in the right direction,” she said.
