COLUMBUS, Ohio — State Attorney General Mike DeWine says Ohio's crackdown on synthetic drugs is being thwarted by chemical tweaking of the drugs to keep them legal.
DeWine met Monday with the Ohio Pharmacy Board to discuss ways to ban newly created versions of the drugs developed to get around chemical definitions in state law.
DeWine has led efforts targeting the drugs, sometimes called bath salts or herbal essence, being sold around the state.
The drugs can have effects similar to but longer-lasting than amphetamines. They are often marketed in colorful packages with names like "Ninja," ''Bizarro" or "Vanilla Sky," or even with Disney characters.
Packages can be as cheap as $10. Authorities say the drugs can cause users to behave in bizarre and dangerous ways.
