RALEIGH (AP) — It’s now illegal in North Carolina to sell, manufacture or possess synthetic forms of marijuana or cocaine, also known as spice and bath salts.
A law that goes into effect Wednesday bans the synthetic drugs, which mimic the effects of marijuana and cocaine. Officials say one of the ingredients in bath salts was responsible for the deaths of two North Carolina State University students in October 2010.
Under the new law, ingredients in bath salts are Schedule I controlled substances, meaning they have a high potential for abuse. Spice chemicals will be classified as having a low potential for abuse.