Law enforcement talks bath salt ban

VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - A ban on bath salts in Indiana continues to makes its way through the statehouse.

Under the bill, bath salts and other synthetic drugs will become illegal.

It'll mean changes for local law enforcement.

"The end result is there's going to be more people in jail in an already overcrowded jail, there are going to be more people in the court system, an already overcrowded court system,” Vigo County Deputy Chief Clark Cottom said.

As of now, the Vigo County Jail is more than 10 inmates over capacity.

Officials say the growing drug culture isn't helping.

Cottom said the potential new law will do more than crowd the system.

"We're going to end up having more officers, more manpower involved in the enforcement of it and the policing of it,” he said.

Cottom believes the synthetic drug ban is necessary as they continue fighting illegal drugs in Vigo County.

The bill also means Indiana retailers selling the items could lose their business license for a year.

It also specifies all related mixtures to the bath salts and synthetic drugs will also be banned.