TOPEKA -- Kansas is the first state in the country to approve legislation to add chemicals used to create synthetic marijuana and ecstasy to the state’s list of banned substances. The governor signed House Bill 2411 into law today.

Representative Rob Olson, R-Olathe, introduced HB 2411 this session after learning from Kansas law enforcement about two man-made chemicals named JWH-018 and JWH-073 found in a smokable herbal product known as K2. The bill also would ban HU-210. Scientific testing conducted by the Johnson County Sheriff's Forensic Laboratory found the chemicals are very similar to tetrahydrocannadbinol, or THC – the chemical in marijuana that gives users a “high”.

“We've drawn national attention to the dangers of synthetic drugs. This is a win for Kansas. Not only did we raise awareness about this issue among Kansas parents but we've also helped legislators and families in 49 other states protect their children today,” Rep. Olson said. “I want to thank everyone who worked to make this legislation possible, especially the Johnson County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies and counselors who took time to testify about the importance of HB 2411. I also am very grateful to Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, Senator Vicki Schmidt and House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Chairman Pat Colloton for their assistance in moving the bill through the legislature.”

The House Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice added trifluomethylphenyl piperazine, or TFMPP and benzylpiperazine, or BZP to HB 2411. When these two synthetics are combined, it mimics the high of ecstasy.

House Bill 2411 adds these five named compounds as well as those similar in chemical structure to the state’s Schedule I list and make possession, use, sale and possession with intent to sell them and products such as K2 containing them illegal in Kansas.

“This bill makes sure changes in the law keep up with changes in chemistry,” said Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence. “It’s an important step to take to keep this new product from becoming a drug of choice for Kansas kids.”

Senator Derek Schmidt, Senator Mike Petersen, R-Wichita, and Senator Vicki Schmidt, R-Topeka, introduced a similar measure in the Senate.

“It is tremendously gratifying to have this piece of legislation signed into law,” said Sen. Vicki Schmidt, who carried the measure on the floor of the Kansas Senate. “These synthetic substances are being used – and abused – as substitutes for other illicit drugs. They are dangerous in and of themselves, and they most certainly can act as gateway drugs that lead people to try other more destructive drugs. Kansas can serve as a model to the nation in removing these synthetic products from store shelves, recognizing them for the real threat they pose, for the real harm they can cause.”

The House approved the measure 110-11 while the Senate voted 37-1 in favor of the bill.

“The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office thanks Representative Olson and Senators Derek Schmidt, Mike Petersen and Vicki Schmidt for their dedication to the law enforcement community in pursuing this bill,” said Johnson County Sheriff Frank Denning. “Deputies in Johnson County worked tirelessly to investigate and research these drugs which came onto the law enforcement stage just months ago. These legislators were instrumental in acting upon this legislation to protect our children against these new dangerous drugs. And we know, Kansas is the first state in the country to attack these drugs and without their support, this would not have been possible.”

The legislation will go into effect after it is publish in the state register.