A Kentucky lawmaker wants to remind the state that so-called synthetic drugs are still drugs.
Democratic State Representative John Tilley of Hopkinsville wants to see harsher punishments for dealers.
His proposed House Bill 481 would treat synthetics the same as real or traditional drugs.
The legislation would work to stop underground chemists from tweaking or changing ingredients to get around bans on certain substances.
Tilley says it will also help strengthen the state legislation passed last year which bans the sale of synthetics.
"We- at that time- thought we were passing the most comprehensive legislation we could...as most states did. And we're having to go back to the drawing board and try to be more aggressive. And the key is we can't pass a bill that's unconstitutional or wouldn't be enforceable in our court system," says Tilley.
The American Poison Control Centers say synthetics are among the worst substances poison centers have seen.
It also says 60% of its cases involve patients ages 25 and under.
