The state of Illinois has four new laws that Gov. Pat Quinn says will help crack down on substance abuse.
Quinn signed the following measures into law today:
- House bills 3042, 2089 and 2595 put much tighter restrictions on a variety of synthetic drugs. Bills 3042 and 2089 deal with so-called "bath salts" - essentially fake cocaine that can cause severe hallucinations, paranoia, and psychotic episodes. House Bill 2595 deals with synthetic marijuana products. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon signed a similar ban this month as well.
- House Bill 21 expands the definition of a drug-induced homicide by including deaths that occur when a person absorbs the drug through their skin. The bipartisan bill, according to Quinn's office, "closes a loophole in state law the prevent the abuse of prescription pain-killing fentanyl patches." Currently, a person can only face drug-induced homicide charges if they unlawfully deliver an illegal drug to a person who then ingests, snorts or injects the drug.
All the bills except HB2595, the "fake pot" ban, take effect immediately.
