Canada Makes "Bath Salts" Illegal

Put in the same category as heroin

OTTAWA, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- The Canadian government made the street drug known as bath salts illegal Wednesday, putting it in the same category as heroin and cocaine, officials said.

Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq made the announcement in Ottawa, saying it was now "illegal to possess, traffic, import or export, unless authorized by regulation."

The name for the drug is methylenedioxypyrovalerone, or MDPV. It resembles, but is no way related to, such legitimate bath salts such as Epsom salts, a health ministry release said.