Legislation Aimed At Synthetic Drugs Passes Senate

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Legislation to ban some synthetic drugs has passed the U.S. Senate as part of a broader bill covering several pharmaceutical and medical issues.

The legislation would ban a substance known as 2C-E and eight similar substances. It also takes aim at some chemicals found in synthetic marijuana and synthetics marketed as bath salts.

Efforts to tighten regulation of synthetics follow the 2011 death of a Blaine man, Trevor Robinson, who was among 11 partygoers sickened by using the substance 2C-E.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar is a sponsor of the legislation. A similar version of the legislation has already passed the House.

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