MANHATTAN — Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law banning certain bath salts being used as drugs.
"Deceptively labeled as 'bath salts' these dangerous products have become an alternative to methamphetamine use with disastrous results," Cuomo said in a statement. "They are a growing danger to public health and today's signing to ban these products is a critical step towards ridding New York of these harmful drugs."
The products, labeled as “bath salts” and sold online and in convenience stores, contain synthetic chemicals that act as hallucinogens, according to the governor’s office.
The bill prohibits the sale of salts with Methylmethcathinone, which is also known as Mephedrone and Methylenedioxymovalcrone, or MDPV.
People ingesting the salts have experienced side effects including extreme paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, hypertension, headaches and suicidal thoughts, according to a statement by State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on June 17.
"Deceptive labeling and marketing of these bath salts has led to incredibly dangerous consequences in New York and the rest of the country,” said State Assemblyman Edward C. Braunstein. “With this new law, the state has recognized and responded to these sinister products by establishing these bath salts as controlled substances.”
