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Pa. House, Senate Vote To Ban Bath Salts, Synthetic Drugs

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - Both the state Senate and House have now passed bills banning bath salts and synthetic drugs in Pennsylvania, but there won't be any bill going to the governor's desk for now.

State Senator Lawrence Farnese, a Philadelphia Democrat, sponsored a bill to ban synthetic drugs. But even though it was not his bill passed by the Senate Tuesday, Farnese gave his support to the measure anyway, saying action is needed, "Several states and municipalities across the country have implemented emergency rules to address this very, very serious issue and several states are actually considering similar legislation."

Even though the state House passed a bath salts bill several weeks ago, it is not the same as the measure approved by the Senate Tuesday, so one chamber will have to approve the other's bill, or a compromise measure will have to be drafted. A spokesman for the Senate majority leader says the goal is to send a bill to the governor in May or June.

Reported by Harrisburg Bureau Chief Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio 1060

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