Yesterday, June 6th, Alaska's Governor Sean Parnell signed Senate Bill 140, making synthetic cathinones, or synthetic cocaine, a Schedule IIA controlled substance, and illegal in the state of Alaska.

The bill makes it a crime to sell, distribute, manufacture or possess synthetic cathinones. Generally marketed as ‘bath salts,’ synthetic cathinones are known to produce a high similar to methamphetamine, ecstasy, or cocaine. Symptoms include paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, suicidal behavior and violence.

“This legislation will get these extremely dangerous bath salts out of the hands of Alaska’s children,” said the sponsor of the bill, Senate Majority Leader Kevin Meyer. “With names like Meow-Meow, Vanilla Sky, Ivory Snow, and Bliss, the drugs, cloaked as ‘bath salts’, appeal to kids and may even appear safe to parents.”

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, there has been a 1,300% increase in calls made to poison Control Centers across the nation related to “Bath Salts.”

“Many thanks to Senator Kevin Meyer and Representative Bill Stoltze for sponsoring this legislation that will strengthen the laws relating to this dangerous substance,” Governor Parnell said. “This legislation recognizes the significant threat these substances pose to the health and safety of Alaskans and their communities.”