The Legislation, Senate Bill 140 was voted on and passed today by the Alaska Senate. It now makes its way to the desk of Governor Parnell for his signature.

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.”

Anchorage Mayor, Dan Sullivan wrote a letter in support for the bill, he wrote in that letter, “In response, the Municipality has enacted its own local code, but does not have the jurisdiction to deal with the influx of the drug on a state-wide basis or impose the kinds of meaningful criminal sentences that are needed to stem the manufacture, distribution, and sale of these drugs.”

If signed by the Governor, the possession of more than 500 milligrams of these synthetic cathinones will be a Class “C” felony. Possession of amounts smaller than 500 milligrams would be a Class “A” misdemeanor. 500 milligrams is 1/2 a gram.