COLUMBIA (WACH) -- The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has taken the issue of banning the sale of synthetic drugs known as 'bath salts' off its agenda.
The board was expected to discuss banning the drug said to give users a high like cocaine or methamphetamine at Thursday's meeting.
DHEC spokesman Adam Myrick says federal health officials have not yet made a decision on putting a ban in place, therefore the state agency will not take action until a ruling is made at a higher level.
"The "bath salts" item was placed on this week's DHEC Board agenda in the event that if the feds issued a final designation on the related substances in the Federal Register. We would have asked the board to issue a state designation to mirror the federal designation. Since the feds have not yet issued a final designation, we'll wait until they do," Myrick says.
Supporters of making 'bath salts' a Schedule 1 drug argue the substance is more dangerous than the real drugs they simulate.
Officials were considering a punishment of 30 days in jail or a $500 fine. Now, Myrick says the state will likely follow the lead of the nation when it comes to the ban.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH