Deputies Ready To Enforce Bath Salt Ban

Berkeley County deputies are ready to enforce the new statewide ban on "bath salts" and synthetic marijuana.

Bath salts are products that offer a high similar to recognized illegal narcotics and has been considered a dangerous new entrant into the drug market.

Late Monday afternoon, the S.C. Department of Health of Environmental Control designated bath salts as illegal and highly addictive. Specifically, the ban is on three substances: mephedrone, methylone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). DHEC also banned synthetic marijuana.

Several South Carolina communities have . And the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration banning the bath salts last Friday.

"This will allow state and local law enforcement officers to deal with the issue, as it is illegal to manufacture, distribute, possess, import or export these substances," said Carl Roberts, general counsel for DHEC. "These chemicals have been found by the DEA to pose an imminent hazard to public safety and health."

Berkeley County Council was prepared Monday night to consider an emergency ordinance banning bath salts and synthetic marijuana, but the new statewide ban negated the need for the local measure.

Major Ricky Driggers with the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office showed council  bath salts purchased at local gas stations for half the price as cocaine and other illegal substances.

"They are right here in Berkeley County," he said. "We will be out in full force tomorrow morning, taking this stuff off the shelves."