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Politics & Government

You Said It: They're Banning Bath Salts?

"Designer drug" many never heard of recently made illegal in Ohio.

The question almost always generates puzzled looks until we explain it a little more.

Ohio banned bath salts? What? 

The term "bath salts" is probably a source of much of the confusion. In this case, it's a euphemism used for a drug that had flown under the radar of police and the Drug Enforcement Agency until recently. These "bath salts" are marketed under such names as Ivory Wave, Red Dove, Pixie Dust, Bliss and Vanilla Sky.

Find out what's happening in Fairlawn-Bathwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the San Francisco Bath Salt Company, these fake "bath salts" contain scary sounding ingredients such as Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and Mephedrone and reportedly cause effects similar to crystal methamphetamines, including hallucinations, paranoia, suicidal thoughts and other unpleasant experiences. The drug is snorted or injected in most cases. It is sold in teabag-size packages or small jars in convenience stores, gas stations and over the Internet. 

The ban was signed by Gov. John Kasich on July 15 and goes into effect 90 days later, in October. The penalties for possession or trafficking bath salts, K2 and related drugs will be like those for marijuana, according to WOSU.  

Find out what's happening in Fairlawn-Bathwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

WLWT in Cincinnati reported on the problem in Southern Ohio. The Akron Beacon Journal reported on it in Summit County, including moves to ban the drug in Barberton and Summit County. 

For legitimate uses of actual bath salts, you probably don't have to worry that Calgon will "take you away" for 30 to 60 days. 

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