Q – What is “bath salts” legal status in Canada?

Health Canada is aware of products sold as bath salts that contain stimulants such as mephedrone, methylone and MDPV. These products may be sold in small package sizes and labelled as “bath salts” or “plant food” in order to appear legal and avoid detection.

Health Canada does not recommend the use of these products because of their potentially dangerous health effects and also because little is known about their potential long-term effects on the brain and/or body.

Mephedrone and methylone are analogues of amphetamine and thus considered to be included in Item 1 of Schedule III to the CDSA. Therefore, it is illegal to conduct activities such as possession, production, importation, exportation, and trafficking with these substances in Canada, unless authorized by regulation. Adverse effects associated with the use of amphetamines can include palpitations, irregular or abnormal heartbeat, heart attack or cardiovascular collapse .

Health Canada is working with law enforcement agencies to determine the most appropriate next steps to address the public health and safety risks associated with the use of MDPV. Specifically, Health Canada is assessing MDPV for scheduling under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).

Health Canada considers several factors in determining whether the scheduling of a substance under the CDSA is warranted. These include:

Overall risk to public health and safety posed by the substance;

Chemical and pharmacological similarity to other substances already regulated under the CDSA;

Legitimate uses of the substance (i.e., therapeutic, industrial or commercial);

Potential for abuse and risk of addiction associated with the substance;

Extent of actual abuse of the substance in Canada and internationally; and

International requirements and trends in international control.

Health Canada response to the National Post