THURSTON RETAILERS REMINDED OF 'BATH SALTS' BAN

The Thurston County prosecuting attorney and Thurston County Public
Health are putting merchants on notice: retailers selling synthetic
marijuana or synthetic stimulants marketed as "bath salts" might face
felony charges in the wake of recent emergency bans by the state
Board of Pharmacy.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Wayne Graham has co-drafted a letter
tentatively set to be sent next week to every Thurston County
merchant with a tobacco license, more than 100 in all. It explains
that the pharmacy board's ban makes it illegal to sell, possess,
manufacture or deliver synthetic pot or the bath salts.

Co-authors of the letter are Prosecuting Attorney Jon Tunheim and
Health Officer Diana Yu.

Graham, who handles criminal cases in juvenile court, said law
enforcement, schools and drug courts are seeing a growing number of
people abusing bath salts and synthetic pot. Law enforcement agencies
will conduct compliance checks.

Synthetic pot, which goes by brand names such as Spice and K2, have
never been approved for consumption. They have been linked to a
growing number of hospital emergency room visits, with patients
reporting elevated heart rates, anxiety attacks and even psychosis.

Bath salts, sold under brand names such as Ivory, Purple Wave, Red
Dove and Zoom, "affect behavior, judgment and health and can cause
serious harm when used," according to the Board of Pharmacy's website.

Bath salts "may cause an increased heart rate, elevated blood
pressure, anxiety, hallucinations, paranoia, chest pains, and other
harmful effects," according to the site.