South Carolina’s health agency has followed up on a federal mandate making synthetic drugs illegal.
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COLUMBIA (WACH, AP) -- South Carolina’s health agency has followed up on a federal mandate making synthetic drugs illegal.
On Monday, Department of Health and Environmental Control officials approved a measure that mirrors the emergency regulation approved last Friday by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
That action makes possessing, selling or manufacturing bath salts and synthetic marijuana illegal.
“State law authorizes the DHEC Board to designate a substance as a controlled substance in this state if the federal government has issued the same designation,” said Carl Roberts, general counsel for DHEC.
The S.C. Board of Health and Environmental Control reclassified three substances known as bath salts and five items used to make synthetic marijuana as a schedule one controlled substance.
Rep. Anne Thayer sponsored legislation when lawmakers met in January to make the new compounds illegal. The proposal didn't get out of committee.
But the Anderson Republican says plenty has changed since this spring, with a rash of bizarre incidents across the state and even the death of a college athlete blamed on synthetic stimulants.
Law enforcement throughout the state can now start enforcing these banned substances.
Felony charges for possessing or selling the drugs in South Carolina carry up to five years in prison on first offense.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
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