By Ray Reed

Published: February 26, 2011

Synthetic marijuana will become illegal in Virginia as soon as Gov. Bob McDonnell signs bills that were passed unanimously in the General Assembly Saturday.

The measures sponsored by Del. Scott Garrett, R-Lynchburg, and Sen. Mark Herring, D-Loudoun County, ban 10 kinds of synthetic pot and any new chemical compounds that may be invented in hopes of getting around the law.

Two kinds of designer drugs called “bath salts” also are banned under the legislation.

Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, said the law’s immediate effectiveness could make it a crime for mer-chants to have a supply of the synthetic marijuana or hallucinogenic bath salts in their warehouse or store-room.

“Clearly it’s their intent to sell it if they’ve purchased it,” Watkins said, and that could create a situation where an unaware merchant would be committing a felony.

Watkins encouraged senators to alert their constituents to the law’s immediate effect.

Sen. Edward Houck, D-Spotsylvania, said the substances offered no benefit and he wasn’t concerned about merchants who might have them on hand.

“I have no sympathies in the world for them,” Houck said.

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