NJ Attorney General Uses Emergency Powers To Ban Bath Salts

Breaking news out of NJ: bath salts are dangerous! Sure, we've been hearing all about the dangers of bath salts for the last five months or so, but for some reason, it was all too much for the state to take anymore. Today, NJ Attorney General Paula Dow filed emergency rules designed to immediately ban the sale and manufacture of bath salts, and criminalize the muscle relaxing product.

“The name sounds innocent. They are not. We’re not talking about what the old days people referred to as the Epsom salts," Dow said. According to NJNewsroom, 23 people have been sickened and at least 12 people have been hospitalized since January 1. Back in March, two New Jersey legislators introduced legislation to ban the sale and use of bath salts; and before that, Chuck Schumer also announced a bill to ban the two active ingredients, adding them to the federal list of controlled substances. But today's emergency move is much more decisive.

State consumer affairs acting director Thomas Calcagni says that this past month, three users went to the hospital from the chemicals, whose side effects include hallucinations, paranoia, rapid heart rates and suicidal thoughts. “He was foaming at the mouth, breathing rapidly,” said Calcagni of a 42-year-old man who took the drug. From here on, the six chemicals associated with the products will be classified in NJ as Class 1 controlled dangerous substances. Dow says anyone who voluntarily surrenders the bath salts to police by May 8 will not face criminal charges. But what kind of people would we be if we just voluntarily surrendered our beloved “Energizing Aromatherapy” or “Down2Earth White Horse”!?

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By Ben Yakas in News on April 28, 2011 6:45 PM

Comments [rss]

TimeDown

Thank God they banned them. Now teens in NJ will have no other options to get high.

Inconcievable de Impublishable

Voluntarily surrender... for compensation? If it wasn't illegal when you bought it, why should you give it to the government for free?

Trustafarian

I'm pretty sure if I snort some Pine Sol I'll end up in the hospital too. Why not ban that?

sweetdaddychampagne

You snort some Pine Sol and I'll huff some pressurized air cleaner from Staples and top it off with a shot of White Out.

Guest

Don't forget to down a bottle of 'Tussin.

sweetdaddychampagne

I save that sweet syrup for special occasions...like Saturdays.

The_Green_Devil

Yet I can go down to my corner liquor store and buy a 1.75l bottle of vodka and drink my face off and that's perfectly legal. Makes perfect sense.

Politburo

There is one active ingredient in vodka, and its properties are well known.

Without looking at the article, can you tell me the active ingredient(s) in a given package of bath salts, and its effects?

Roger_the_Shrubber

We are getting to the point where everything will be illegal or banned or regulated to death. Police will be able to pick up anyone at random knowing they probably broke some law or ordinance.

Guest

Bingo! Welcome to 1984 in the year 2011.

nicemarmot

"We’re not talking about what the old days people referred to as the Epsom salts,"

I'm pretty sure they still call Epsom salts Epsom salts. And this whole issue would be a lot less confusing if they would quit calling these chemicals bath salts...since they're not bath salts.

jaycjay

Right. And a "ban on bath salts" would mean that you could no longer buy Epsom salts, which of course is not the case. The Attorney General did not ban bath salts according to the linked article, but banned six chemicals that are used in various products marketed as "bath salts", "incense", etc.

Six chemicals associated with the manufacture of the drugs will be classified in new Jersey as Class 1 controlled dangerous substances. Manufacture, distribution, sale, or possession of the chemicals will be considered a crime punishable by three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000