The Ohio General Assembly passed legislation this week making bath salts and other designer drugs illegal. On Friday, Gov. John Kasich signed House Bill 64 into law.

Designer drugs designed to look like bath salts have been available legally in shops and online. Now, Ohio has a law to nip the growing popularity of the white powdery substance in the bud.

“These drugs have devastating effects on those who use them, and can put local law enforcement in danger as well when people are under their influence,” Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said. “This new law will also give local law enforcement and county prosecutors the ability to go after products that are similar in chemical structure to Schedule I or II drugs and have similar psychological effects or sold to have similar effects as a Schedule I or II substance. I would also like to thank Rep. Margaret Ann Ruhl and Sen. David Burke for their cooperation on this legislation.”

FRANK LEWIS may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232, or flewis@heartlandpublications.com.