Although several cities across Pennsylvania have acted to ban the controversial bath salt drugs, such bans have stalled in the state legislature. As a result, the drugs remain fully legal and are available for purchase over the counter and on the Internet.

The bath salt drugs are not bath salts at all, but are a mixture of substances that includes a synthetic drug product which is similar in effect to meth and cocaine, according to state drug officials. The drug is believed to cause violent hallucinations in users.

Several states have enacted emergency bans of six chemicals commonly used in the bath salt drugs, with plans to make those bans permanent through a state law. Yet despite the apparent mass alarm of Pennsylvania law enforcement and court officials, state legislators have yet to agree on a law banning the drugs.

Early last month, the state House passed Bill 365, which would ban the six chemicals that are found in the bath salt drugs. The House then sent the bill to the state Senate for consideration, hopeful that the bill would be passed quickly.

However, the Senate did not act on the House bill, but instead began considering a ban of its own. That bill was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week and sent to the full body for consideration. If it passes the Senate, it will be sent to the House, despite the fact that it has already passed a ban of its own.

The legislature's reasons for passing two competing bath salt bans, as well as the conflicting language in each bill, is unknown. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Bob Casey is acting to enact a nationwide bath salt ban, penning a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration. In his letter, Casey asked the agency to ban the bath salt products for one year in order to allow for more extensive DEA study of the drugs nad their effects.

Source: Fox Philly, "Bath Salts Ban Stuck in Political Limbo", 5 May 2011