TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) -- Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Wednesday that a new bill to add more substances to a synthetic drug ban has been signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott.
Bondi worked with state Sen. Rob Bradley and state Rep. Clay Ingram, both Republicans, on the Controlled Substances Bill, which adds 27 substances to Schedule I controlled substances.
The bill makes it a third-degree felony for individuals to deliver, manufacture, sell or possess with intent to deliver, manufacture or sell the drugs.
The bill went into effect immediately after it was signed into law.
"Deadly synthetic drugs are targeted to our youth, and I will remain committed to banning these drugs and keeping them off of store shelves," Bondi said. "I thank Gov. Scott for signing this key public safety legislation, which was sponsored by Sen. Bradley and Rep. Ingram."
In December, Bondi filed an emergency rule that temporarily added substances to Schedule I.
The legislation permanently banned the substances that Bondi temporarily added to the synthetic drug ban.
Some dangerous synthetic drugs are marketed as bath salts, spice, K2, potpourri and incense, and can cause tremors, paranoia, seizures, hallucinations, psychotic episodes and more health problems.
Protecting Floridians from synthetic drugs has been one of Bondi's top legislative priorities.
In 2011, Bondi signed an emergency rule to temporarily outlaw MDPV, commonly known as bath salts.
And Bondi has worked closely with Florida lawmakers to add more synthetic substances to Schedule I of controlled substances.