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"Bath Salts" Now Illegal In Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBSMiami.com) – Governor Rick Scott signed HB 1039 Tuesday that bans the possession of "bath salts."

"Bath salts" are a synthetic drug that has become increasingly common, according to law enforcement agencies.

A temporary ban has been in place for part of 2011 and Attorney General Pam Bondi said a ban has been working and will work.

"Since the temporary ban in January, which made the use and sale of a new synthetic drug known as "bath salts" illegal; we have seen a decrease in the number of reported medical emergencies related to this drug," Bondi told the News Service of Florida.

The "bath salts" will now be added to the list of Schedule I controlled substances like cocaine and other drugs that serve no medical usage. Possession is now a third degree felony under the new law.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service Of Florida contributed to this report.)

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