Ban on synthetic marijuana passes Senate, goes to president

Posted at: 05/24/2012 7:41 PM

A bill brought forward by Senator Chuck Schumer to ban synthetic marijuana has passed the United States Senate.

The bill would make synthetic marijuana and the chemical compounds found in bath salts illegal in the U.S. It would close loopholes that have make the spread of synthetic marijuana nearly impossible to control, due to minor changes in the chemical makeup of the product. The new legislation covers synthetic marijuana products as well as other possible chemical combinations, ensuring that news products that fall outside of existing bans could not be created.

Schumer's bill would also ban MDPV and mephedrone, the active ingredients in bath salts.

The legislation, which passed the House of Representatives earlier this year, now goes to President Obama for his approval. 

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