‘Bath salts,’ fake marijuana now a felony in SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Police in South Carolina can now charge people with a felony for having synthetic marijuana or psychoactive drugs marketed as “bath salts.”

The board that oversees the Department of Health and Environmental Control voted unanimously Monday to mirror action taken Friday by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Three compounds used to make bath salts and five used to make fake marijuana are classified as “schedule I” drugs under both federal and state law.

Agency attorney Carl Roberts says state law allows DHEC’s board to designate a substance as illegal if the federal government does so.

The vote allows local law enforcement officers to make arrests.

Felony charges for possessing or selling the drugs in South Carolina carry up to five years in prison on first offense.