Rick Scott Signs Law to Expand Synthetic Drug Ban in Florida

Attorney General Pam Bondi thanked Gov. Rick Scott on Friday for signing a bill she backed, HB 1175, that would expand the list of banned synthetic drugs in Florida.

This law bans dangerous new synthetic drugs and will clear Florida's store shelves of substances that are harming young people, Bondi stated in a release.

We will continue to crack down on drug makers who are attempting to skirt state law and endangering lives. I applaud Governor Scott for signing this vital public safety bill into law."

The law, which goes into effect immediately, makes 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.

Since July 1, 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.

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.