Daniels signs tougher bath salts law

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Some say a new law in Indiana will save lives immediately.

An I-Team 8 investigation prompted the new law making more synthetic drugs illegal, now one of the toughest laws of its kind in the country. It targets fake cocaine known as bath salts and fake marijuana known as spice sold to kids in gas stations across the state - and even near schools.

Gov. Mitch Daniels signed the bill into law Thursday.

Victim's family tells tragic tale

The signing came on the same day yet another person under the effects of bath salts tried to commit suicide in Lawrence, police said.

Many families understand that pain. One of them lost their son last fall.

Will Lawrance battled an addiction to bath salts. His family said bath salts, used as an alternative to cocaine, pushed their son to commit suicide last September, just two months after the drug was banned in Indiana.

"It's poison, and it causes people to take their lives,” said Lawrance’s father, Mark Lawrance. “That is documented over and over again. That's the tragedy that happened with us."

In November, an I-Team 8 hidden camera investigation uncovered gas stations, convenience stores and head shops selling the drugs. Our investigation prompted the tougher legislation, which is why Gov. Daniels allowed only 24-Hour News 8 cameras into the signing for the landmark law.

As he signed, he said: "From the sound of it, this can't be law too soon."

Enforcement begins immediately

Enforcement of the law begins immediately. Indiana State Police are being trained over the next few weeks. For retailers, that’s a grace period to get legal or get busted.

"Retailers, information they are getting through the media, through you, will know we should not have this here,” said ISP Capt. Dave Bursten.“This is their opportunity to take if off the shelves, not stock it anymore and not put their retail license in jeopardy."

If caught selling and convicted, retailers can lose their license, face eight years in jail and a $10,000 fine. The tougher law targets enforcement.

"We were able to find the trigger, and the trigger is the Board of Pharmacy. And when (state lawmakers) aren't in session, they can be on the look out along with AIT and other labs and ISP. We now have a watchdog," said state Sen. Jim Merritt.

I-Team 8 prompts law

Merritt said months of hard work will save lives. He took action after watching the I-Team 8 investigations in November.

"When we started talking about this on WISH-TV so many months ago, I was really, really upset. I was angry," he said.

The Lawrance family worked with legislators for this day, their son and other families.

"This has been really big, and for the Legislature to respond and react that quickly and the emergency declared for this act is huge," Mark Lawrance said.

Retailers urged to get legal now

Indiana State Police and the Drug Enforcement Agency are hosting a drug drop-off April 28 at all ISP posts for all retailers who want to get rid of their now-illegal products.

DEA will also host a drop-off site at the Government Center at Orr Plaza in Indianapolis on April 27.