Synthetic drug bill signed into law | Crime

The state govement is working to close legal loopholes in drug laws by setting their sights on manufacturers of synthetic drugs.

Legislators say they want to ensure that anyone who provides or manufactures "designer drugs" can be held liable if the drugs result in a death.

If a death occurred, the makers could be charged with first-degree murder.

The legislator who created the bill says she did so after a group of East Center University students died last year after using "2- Bromo Dragonfly," a designer drug that is still available on the internet.

Prosecutors say laws in effect at the time of the deaths restricted them from being able to hold anyone legally responsible.

The bill would also expand the definition of first-degree murder to include deaths from the manufacturing of drugs, such as meth lab explosions.

Gov. Fallin signed the bill into law Tuesday and says it will go into effect November 1, 2012.