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Oneida County passes law prohibiting use, sale and possession of synthetic drugs

By LEXIE O'CONNOR

Story Created: Aug 8, 2012 at 4:49 PM EDT

Story Updated: Sep 12, 2012 at 11:03 AM EDT

ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y. (WKTV) - The Oneida County Legislature approved a new local law on Wednesday, prohibiting the use, sale and possession of bath salts and other synthetic drugs.

The Board of Legislators voted unanimously to approve and expedite the law that County Executive Anthony Picente recently put forth that gives the county power to prosecute anyone using, possessing, purchasing, and selling the drugs.

Much like the state law, the county law adds to the list of illegal ingredients found in bath salts. Officials say the law makes it so that there is no loopholes or wiggle room for a drug distributor to get off.

"We went as broad as we could, covered a wide range of hallucinogenics and various synthetic drugs that were a part of this, so we believe it could work and it goes back to the uniformity issue, that as we do apprehend people we have teeth in a law locally that can stick," County Executive Picente said.

With the law passed, anyone in violation of the new local law could face up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Picente hopes the law will be able to be finalized and take effect by September.

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