Miss. Senate sends 'bath salts' bill to the governor -- Substance can cause hallucinations, paranoia

JACKSON - Mississippi lawmakers on Thursday sent Republican Gov.Haley Barbour a bill that would outlaw toxic chemicals sold as bathsalts and other products, in hopes of curtailing what's become adrug scourge in parts of the state.

The bill heads to the governor after the Senate passed the Housebill that would ban mephedrone and MDPV - short formethylenedioxypyrovalerone.

Rep. Lester Carpenter, R-Burnsville, said the bill would make ita misdemeanor for simple possession of the chemicals and a felonyfor possession with intent to sell.

Carpenter said he filed the bill at the urging of law enforcementofficers and others in his district in Alcorn and Tishomingocounties. The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics also lobbied for thebill.

Sold under such names as Ivory Wave, Bliss, White Lightning andHurricane Charlie, the chemicals can cause hallucinations, paranoia,rapid heart rates and suicidal thoughts, authorities say.

The stimulants aren't regulated by the U.S. Drug EnforcementAdministration and can be sold legally at convenience stores andover the Internet. The drugs are derivatives of cathinone, a plantgrown in Africa that is regulated in the U.S.

Carpenter, who works as a paramedic, said he has seen the effectsfirsthand.

He said users of the drugs think they have supernatural powers.And, he said, " They think you're out to get them."

Barbour spokesman Dan Turner said the governor will review thebill.

"Controlling a hallucinogen in any form is going to be a highpriority because it creates a safety risk," Turner said Thursday.

The problem isn't just limited to Mississippi, said Dr. MarkRyan, director of Louisiana's poison control center. Louisianabanned the substances through an emergency order in January. Still,poison centers across the country continue to receive calls aboutexposure to the drugs.

Nationally, more than 1,000 calls have been received at poisoncenters, Ryan said Thursday.