Synthetic drugs are substances that mimic the effects of marijuana, cocaine and other illegal drugs. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the state legislature passed a law last year criminalizing the possession of K2. They expanded the law this year because a number of similar marijuana-like substances were still legal. Bath salts are a synthetic form of cocaine or synthetic cathinones usually packaged in 200-milligram packages. Bath salts — the medicine, not the health and beauty preparation you sprinkle in your bathtub — are not sold in retail stores, but in smoke and head stores across the country, including Missouri. Missouri lawmakers this week approved a ban on synthetic drugs known as bath salts. The bill also extends an existing ban on another synthetic drug called K2 to include other similar substances. The measure awaits the governor`s signature. These cases are based on possession of an unknown substance that must be tested and proven to be an illegal compound under Missouri law. Hb 641 also includes K3, a synthetic form of marijuana. K3 was developed after the ban on synthetic pots called K2 in 2010. K3 was made using compounds that were not illegal under the K2 ban.
HB 641 was formulated to fill the gaps in synthetic drugs such as bath salts, K2, K3 and any newly created drugs aimed at replicating the effects of cocaine and marijuana. Bath salts are sniffed as a white powder and usually contain mephedrone (MDVP). Many consider bath salts to be more dangerous than cocaine. They can cause extremely high blood pressure, severe panic attacks, and extreme hallucinations. If you or a loved one has been charged with possession of synthetic drugs, synthetic drugs, or bath salts in Missouri, JCS Law can help! John Schleiffarth defends those charged with possession, possession with intent to illegally distribute, distribute or sell Ivory Wave, Energy 1, Cloud 9, Purple Dragon, Stardust and other synthetic drugs. The use of synthetic drugs has become increasingly common since 2007. Bath salts, or synthetic cathinones, first became illegal in Missouri in 2011 when House Bill 641 was signed into law by Governor Jay Nixon. Law enforcement at the municipal, county, state, and federal levels has increasingly stepped up their aggressive police tactics to find those in possession of bath salts. Our office has seen an increase in the number of defendants possessing bath salts and seeking to defend themselves against bath salt.
If you or your loved ones are charged with a bath salt crime, call defense attorney Bill Byrnes immediately 24 hours a day at 636-896-4300. Synthetic drugs cause a sharp increase in serious health problems ranging from seizures and hallucinations to death. Hospitals are seeing a rapid increase in the number of synthetic drug users with health problems, including respiratory problems, rapid heartbeat, delusions and extreme paranoia. Figures from the American Association of Poison Control Centers show that at least 2,700 people have contracted synthetic drugs since January, compared to less than 3,200 for all of 2010. On July 14, 2011, Governor Jay Nixon signed House Bill 641 into law. This law prohibits any substance that attempts to mimic the effects of marijuana or cocaine. Under HB 641, those who possess these substances would be charged with a Class C crime. In Missouri, arrests of bath salt are currently underway. A cathinone production ring was shut down not only for manufacturing the drug, but also for mislabeling its products and for money laundering. Since these drugs are sometimes sold in public places such as gas stations and bait stores, you need an attorney who fully understands the relevant Missouri laws. Bill Byrnes is committed to protecting the rights of all his clients.
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