Synthetic marijuana products like “Mr. Smiley" will be a hot topic at the Indiana Statehouse on Tuesday. That’s when a senate committee will consider banning those products and creating penalties for using or selling them.
Officials say the synthetic drugs mimic the effects of THC, which is found in marijuana, causing hallucinations, rapid heartbeat, confusion and vomiting.
A nationwide ban from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) already went into effect on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.
The proposal, which would add chemicals found in the synthetic marijuana to the Indiana state's controlled substances list, is co-authored by republican state senator Joe Zakas of Granger.
He says while current bans are helpful a comprehensive statewide ban is needed to effectively curb the use of the Indiana products.