New York State Department of Health Makes Bath Salts Illegal

Under new Department of Health regulations announced yesterday, it is now illegal to possess bath salts and synthetic drugs in New York State.

The DOH expanded the list of prohibited drugs and chemicals to include substances that are used to make synthetic drugs to ensure local distributors can’t evade the law by modifying the drug’s ingredients.

The new regulation allows for the first time an owner of a business and or an employee selling synthetic drugs to be charged with possession of an illicit substance. Criminal penalties have also been increased, with fines up to $500 and a possible 15 days in jail.