House committee hears bill banning "bath salts" as synthetic drugs

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Intro:	Missouri lawmakers are tightening the grip on a synthetic drug sold as bath salts around the state.
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Wrap: Popular new synthetic drugs are being sold around the state as bath salts.

But they're not for your bathtub.

The House General Laws committee heard but didn't vote on a bill that would ban the sale and use of the product.

Supporters of the bill say the drug has cocaine-like effects when taken.

Republican Committee Chairman Rep. Ward Franz says people using the drug could cause major problems for the state.

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Description: "I firmly believe that these individuals using these products are going to cost the state a great deal of money if we don't ban this."

Critics say the bill would make criminals out of too many people and increase the costs to house them in jails.

The bill will stay in committee and undergo further revisions.

From the State Capitol, I'm Alon Gilboa.

Intro:	A new legal drug sold around Missouri as bath salts has law enforcement officers worried.
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Wrap: The House General Laws committee heard but didn't vote on a bill that would ban the sale and use of the bath salts, which actually come as a fine powder.

Smoke shops and convenience stores around the state currently sell the drug under various names, such as Ivory Snow and Vanilla Sky.

St. Joseph Police Officer Frank Till says he has encountered the drug and it has a cocaine-like effect on users when its ingested.

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Description: "We need to understand that these aren't bath salts. They are simply a drug sold under the heading of bath salts to avoid DEA and FDA approval."

The bill also calls for a stricter ban on synthetic marijuana-like substances.

The bill will stay in committee and undergo further revisions.

From Jefferson City, I'm Alon Gilboa.

Intro:	Bath salts, not the kind found in your bathroom, have caught the attention of Missouri legislators.
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Wrap: The newest synthetic drugs to be sold in Missouri are labeled as bath salts, but are actually just a powder.

The House General Laws committee heard but didn't vote on a bill that would ban the sale and use of the product.

Columbia Attorney Dan Viets defends people convicted of drug crimes.

He says the answer to this problem should not be a prison sentence, which ends up costing the state.

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Description: "For the past 27 years, we have engaged in an orgy of incarceration, mainly of non-violent people."

The bill also calls for a stricter ban on synthetic marijuana.

The bill will stay in committee and undergo further revisions.

From the State Capitol, I'm Alon Gilboa.