A bad trip: lawmakers try to stay one step ahead of the chemists manufacturing dangerous synthetic drugs.

• Author: Lawrence, Alison

Spice and bath salts sound like something you might toss into a casserole or sprinkle in the bathtub. But they are not nearly so benign as that. Users can experience paranoia, severe anxiety, hallucinations, nausea, skyrocketing heart rates and some even die.

These products are part of a new wave of synthetic drugs widely available in convenience stores and head shops and over the Internet. They mimic the effects of marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy and up until recently have been totally legal.

"The presence of [these drugs] is extremely troubling for a number of reasons," says Kansas Senator Vicki Schmidt. "These compounds have been linked to a number of health concerns. Hospitalizations, emergency room visits and calls to poison control centers have increased everywhere these products are sold."

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USE RISING QUICKLY

Spice is a common brand name for a synthetic cannabinoid, a chemically engineered version of THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana. Synthetic cannabinoids have been linked to more than 1,600 calls to poison control centers in the first four months of this year, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

"The products are meant to create a similar reaction to marijuana," says Dr. Anthony J. Scalzo, medical director of the Missouri Poison Control Center. "But in fact, patients often report the opposite--a fast, racing heartbeat, elevated blood pressure and nausea."

In some instances, Schmidt says, the effects are even worse. "Sadly, a number of deaths have been reported across the country."

Idaho Senator Denton Darrington thinks the rise of synthetic cannabinoids has, at least partially, been a result of successfully controlling other illicit drugs in his state. "We have tackled meth and other drugs, so users are finding other ways to get high."

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Use nationwide has drastically increased over the past three years. Poison control centers, which received 14 calls about the drugs in 2009, received 2,874 calls in 2010. If the calls continue at the current pace, there could be as many as 5,600 this year.

State lawmakers are acting quickly to curb the availability of these drugs. As of April 15, at least 24 states had banned synthetic cannabinoids. Kansas was the first to outlaw the use, possession or sale of synthetic cannabinoids. Schmidt said local law enforcement officials contacted her before the 2010 session with significant concerns about the new drug...