The Indiana House of Representatives has approved a bill aimed at cracking down on retailers who sell bath salts and other illegal synthetic drugs.
House sponsor Rep. Milo Smith says under the measure, shops caught selling the drugs could have their merchant licenses revoked and face additional penalties.
He says drug makers and sellers have been chemically altering or repackaging the drugs in an attempt to stay a step ahead of police and prosecutors.
An Indiana Senate committee has approved a bill that would crack down on retailers who sell synthetic drugs.
Lawmakers have previously outlawed substances such as synthetic marijuana, also known as Spice or K2, and bath salts, but Sen. Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis) says some shops are still selling them.
"If it walks like a skunk, and it smells like a skunk and it looks like a skunk, it’s a skunk. And what we have on retail counters today are skunks," Merritt said.
