Bondi Seeks Wider Ban on Synthetic Drugs

Joined by members of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Sheriffs Association and Florida Police Chiefs Association, Attorney General Pam Bondi pushed Tuesday for bills sitting before legislators that would ban a new list of synthetic drugs.

We will not allow chemists who are altering the components of these dangerous synthetic drugs to circumvent state law, Bondi said during a media conference Tuesday in the Capitol.

They think they can stay one step ahead of us. We are on them.

View video of the media conference here.

The Senate Bill, SB 1502, has cleared a single committee, Criminal Justice. Meanwhile, the House version, HB 1175, has yet to be heard in committee.

Since July 1 of 2011, Florida law enforcement has made nearly 1,000 arrests linked with synthetic drugs after lawmakers banned synthetic compounds sold as bath salts under such names as "White Rush," "Blue Silk" and "Vanilla Sky, saidJim Madden, FDLE assistant commissioner.

Since then, new formulas have been developed by slightly changing the molecules in order to skirt the law, as well as redesigning the packaging to include phrases such as not for human consumption.

People have chosen to use this drug in lieu of cocaine, methamphetamines, thinking its not harmful --thats not true, Madden said.

The proposed legislation would make it a third-degree felony for an individual to sell, manufacture or deliver, or possess with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver" new forms of synthetic cathinone, "bath salts" and synthetic cannabinoid "K2.