Gov. Nathan Deal signs law banning synthetic pot

Gov. Nathan Deal has signed legislation that outlaws synthetic marijuana in Georgia.

The new law is named Chase’s Law after Chase Buett, a 16-year-old who was found dead in a hot tub after smoking ”spice or K-2. Channel 2’s John Bachman spoke to Buett’s parents, who were with the goveor Tuesday.

"It's killing people, maiming people. It's hurting families," Buett’s father, David, said.

Until Tuesday, most chemical versions of synthetic marijuana, which is sold at gas stations across the state, were legal. A GA Daily News investigation in March 2010 exposed dozens of emergency room visits linked to synthetic marijuana. The investigation was followed by the first law banning synthetic pot, but makers found a loophole in that law by using different chemicals to make it, posing a major problem for drug agents.

"I get more calls over the synthetic drug issue than any other crime problem," said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Veon Keenan.

Keenan joined the Buett family to watch Deal sign the new law Tuesday. Keenan said the new law covers most chemical versions of synthetic pot. He said agents will be fighting to get the product off the streets immediately.

"Get it off the shelves or you're going to jail. We intend to aggressively enforce this," Keenan said.

The Buetts said their son would want them to be bold and go public with their tragedy in order to illuminate what they call the death weed.

”If our son's mistake and tragedy can save other lives, then his life would've not been in vain. That's what he would want us to do," David Buett said.