Bill Banning Synthetic Marijuana, Bath Salts Passes U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Federal legislation banning synthetic marijuana and bath salts could land on President Obama's desk by early July now that the U.S. Senate has passed its version of the measure.

According to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), the legislative body approved a bill on May 24 that would make synthetic marijuana and the chemical compounds found in bath salts illegal. It was passed as part of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act. In passing the bill, Schumer and his colleagues overcame a filibuster threat that held up the passage of the bipartisan legislation for months, according to a release from his office.

"Let this be a warning to those who make a profit manufacturing and selling killer chemical components to our teens and children: the jig is up," Schumer said. "This bill closes loopholes that have allowed manufacturers to circumvent local and state bans and ensures that you cannot simply cross state lines to find these deadly synthetic drugs."

 Synthetic marijuana can be found in some convenience stores. It is sold under several names, including Spice and Legal Punk. Bath Salts have also made their way into c-stores, often sold under the Tranquility, Zoom, Ivory Wave, Red Dove and Vanilla Sky names.

A companion piece has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives, and Schumer told the Staten Island Advance he expects a final version to be on Obama's desk by July 4.