Iowa Department of Public Safety
Larry L. Noble, Commissioner
215 East 7th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319

Kevin Frampton, Director

With signature of Governor Branstad, certain drugs now banned.  Iowa DPS offers “take-back” program for Salvia Divinorum and “bath salts”

Media Contact:
Director Kevin Frampton, DNE
515-725-6300

Des Moines, IOWA --- During the 2011 session of the Iowa General Assembly, action was taken to add synthetic cannabinoids, Salvia Divinorum, and “bath salts” to Iowa’s list of Schedule I Controlled Substances.

Synthetic cannabinoids, often marketed under names such as K2, Spice, and more, were addressed on a short term basis by action of Iowa’s Pharmacy Board during 2010, so synthetic cannabinoids had already been illegal to distribute in Iowa on a temporary basis.  With the recent enactment of legislation that has been signed into law by Governor Terry Branstad, synthetic cannabinoids have now been added to Iowa law as Schedule I Controlled Substances.  This action was necessary to keep the ban on K2 and Spice in effect beyond the temporary action of the Pharmacy Board.

Effective July 29, 2011, synthetic cannabinoids became Schedule I Controlled Substances in Iowa.  A person possessing any of several varieties of synthetic cannabinoids is committing a Serious Misdemeanor.  A person who manufactures or delivers synthetic cannabinoids or a person who possesses such substances with the intent to deliver, is committing an Aggravated Misdemeanor.

Unlike synthetic cannabinoids, two other substances – Salvia Divinorum and “bath salts” – had not previously been addressed by either the legislature or the Pharmacy Board.   Given that these substances have been legal to possess or distribute, the new law includes a delay of 30 days before Salvia Divinorum and "bath salts" become Schedule I Controlled Substances.   By delaying the addition of these substances to the list of Schedule I Controlled Substances, any person already in possession of the either type of substance will have an opportunity to dispose of the substance before it becomes contraband.  

The Iowa Department of Public Safety is offering the opportunity for any person to drop off any amount Salvia Divinorum and “bath salts” at Iowa State Patrol District Offices or at the Iowa Department of Public Safety Headquarters – no questions asked. 

All substances turned over to the Iowa Department of Public Safety will be destroyed at the conclusion of the collection and disposal program.  The program will run from Monday, August 8, through Friday, August 26 during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm).   Salvia Divinorum and “bath salts” will become Schedule I Controlled Substances on Sunday, August 28, 2011.  

It is important to note that the new law addressing “bath salts” does not address the type of legitimate bath products that are typically found in the health and beauty section of a wide range of retail stores, but instead the law addresses what are sometimes described as “designer drugs” that may be packaged and sold under a variety of names and may go by a number of different street names. Additional drug info can be found below.

Iowa Department of Public Safety and Iowa State Patrol District Office Locations where these substances may be deposited include the following:

Additonal Information on Newly Banned Drugs:

Known street names or product names for the “bath salts” of concern include Black Rob, Maddie, Magic, MDPK, MTV, Super Coke, as well as packaging labeled as “Bath Salts” or “Incense” and including a product name such as Aura, Blue Silk, Bonzai Grow, Charge Plus, Euphoria, Hurricane Charlie, Ivory Wave, Lovey Dovey, Ocean, Pixie Dust, Red Dove, Scarface, Vanilla Sky, White Dove, White Girl, White Lightning.

Known street names or product names for Salvia Divinorum include Diviner's Sage, Ska María Pastora, and Seer's Sage.

Known street names or product names for synthetic cannabinoids include Black Mamba, Buzz, Earthquake, Fake Weed, Genie, Hush, K2, K3, Mystery, Ocean Blue, Pot-Pourri, Pulse, Serenity, Spice, Spice 99, Stinger, and Voodoo.

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