A statewide ban on bath salts and types of synthetic marijuana went into effect Aug. 28 at midnight, making it the second time Missouri has targeted the drugs.

The new legislation makes the possession and sale of substances containing synthetic cannabinoid and any analogues, homologues, isomers, esters, ethers and salt, commonly known as K2 or K3, a Schedule I illegal drug, according to a news release.

“I know the retail outlets were selling quite a bit of synthetics in Boone County,” Boone County Sheriffs Department Detective Tom O’Sullivan said. “I’m sure other communities are experiencing the same situation. They aren’t just passing the law because of something that is going on in Columbia. This has been a problem statewide.”

At least 38 states, including Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa and Kansas have placed similar restrictions on the substances, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

“We enforce it the way we enforce other drug and alcohol laws,” MU Police Department spokesman Brian Weimer said. “We have not made any arrests on it yet.”

The synthetics, which mimic illegal drugs such as cocaine or marijuana, tend to induce psychotic effects. The American Association of Poison Control Centers reported that through the first several months of this year, there were more than 2,700 cases of people falling ill from the synthetic drugs.

“We have had numerous incidents of people who have ingested bath salts and experienced severe medical problems,” O’Sullivan said. “We had a case a couple weeks ago of a man who was discharging a firearm in his house at imaginary people that he thought were present and trying to do him harm. We have taken a number of people in for psychiatric evaluations that were under the influence of these drugs.”

The law not only aids in preventing drug abuse, but also provides law officials with a tool to eliminate possible loopholes for manufacturers.

The umbrella legislation outlaws any cannabinoid compound that is developed in the future and eliminates the need to seek new legislation each time a different variation of the drug is developed.

“This legislation was flawed in that every time a new manufacturer would just come up with a different recipe to get around the law,” O’Sullivan said. “I’ve been at this game long enough to know that the people who are making money off of this kind of thing are not going to pack up and move away, but I do think the law is beneficial.”

The law also makes the possession of the drugs a more serious crime, with possession penalties similar to those for marijuana.

Posession of 35 grams of synthetic cannabinoid is a Class C felony and possession of less than 35 grams is a Class A misdemeanor. Possession of bath salts, no matter the quantity, is a Class C felony.

“I know we are going to enforce this law quite vigorously,” O’Sullivan said. “The law just went into effect last night. If we catch anyone selling or using it, they are subject to arrest.”

The implications of the newly implemented law will be seen in upcoming months.