Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos expressed frustration in a statement yesterday that Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver hasn’t taken up a measure that would make the posession and sale of synthetic drugs and bath salts a felony.

The statement came after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday that a little-known panel within the state Department of Health was increasing penalties for the sale and possession of the drugs.

The move also expanded the list of banned substances under the DOH’s regulations.

But Senate Republicans say that while it’s a good first step, the Democratic-led Assembly needs to do more:

 

The actions taken by Governor Cuomo to crack down on synthetic marijuana and bath salts are a good step towards preventing the sale and possession of these very dangerous drugs. However, we need to go even further to stop the scourge of these terrible drugs that are causing deaths and acts of violence. That’s why I am calling on the state Assembly to pass the Senate’s bill (S6694) to impose felony-level penalties for the sale and possession of bath salts and synthetic marijuana.

The Senate bill, sponsored by Senators John Flanagan and Joe Griffo, would impose felony sanctions on individuals who continue to push synthetic marijuana and bath salts. In fact, anyone caught selling these drugs to minors on or near school grounds could get up to 25 years in prison.

Parents who have lost children and others who have suffered from these drugs would agree that the Assembly should join the Senate in passing this bill and sending the strongest possible message that New York will not tolerate the sale or possession of synthetic marijuana and bath salts.

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