Bath salts, a synthetic substance that's made big news recently as possible culprit for face eating drug addicts in Florida and Louisiana, is now officially illegal in Alaska.
Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell on Wednesday signed legislation classifying synthetic cocaine -- marketed as bath salts -- as a Schedule IIA controlled substance. That puts the substance on par with crystal meth, cocaine and LSD.
In a press release announcing the new law, Parnell said bath salts can "impair perception, reduce motor control, and cause extreme paranoia and violent episodes."
Bath salts use has been reported across Alaska and has become popular because it doesn't show up in conventional urinalysis tests.
Last year, Alaska lawmakers passed a law banning other drugs sold at smoke shops and elsewhere, synthetic cannabis marketed as K2 or Spice, which reportedly cause hallucinations, loss of reality and an inability to walk and talk.