Senate sends bills banning drugs sold as ‘spice’ and ‘bath salts’ to governor’s desk

The Senate has voted unanimously, 35-0, to ban the designer drug that’s been marketed in head shops as “bath salts” and the chemical that’s been marketed as “spice” or a synthetic form of marijuana, sending both House-passed bills to the governor’s desk. “There’s no other use for these chemicals - need I say more?” asked Sen. Denton Darringon, R-Declo, Senate sponsor of HB 119, the bath salts bill. Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, said, “We have come to the point where we have some very, very life-threatening substances just presented as if they’re a recreational opportunity … in a retail store,” which she called “very disturbing.” The anti-“spice” bill is HB 139; it makes permanent a temporary ban on the substance imposed by the state Board of Pharmacy.