LePage Signs Bill Creating Penalties for Bath Salts

July 6, 2011

The Associated Press Posted July 06, 2011, at 4:54 p.m.

AUGUSTA, Maine ? Gov. Paul LePage has signed into law a measure targeting synthetic drugs known as ?bath salts.?

LePage signed the bill on Wednesday after conferring with Public Safety Commissioner John Morris. The bill establishes a $350 fine for possession of the substance. It also establishes penalties for trafficking that can carry jail time for repeat offenses.

Bath salts were largely unknown a year ago. But there has been a surge of emergency room visits by people who?ve overdosed on the chemicals.

Adrienne Bennett, spokewoman for the governor, said the measure is a good first step toward dealing with the chemicals that cause hallucinations.