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Nebraska bill targeting synthetic drugs advances

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a bill to ban new forms of popular synthetic drugs, including K2 and bath salts.

The bill won first-round approval on Tuesday with a 33-0 vote. The bill by Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala was introduced this year as part of Attorney General Jon Bruning's annual legislative package.

Nebraska's current ban on K2 was enacted in 2011 and updated last year, but overseas chemists have kept adjusting the drug's formula to skirt the ban. K2 mimics the effects of marijuana.

Lancaster County authorities say the drug was responsible for the October death of 18-year-old Billy Tucker after a weekend party in Lincoln. Tucker died while sleeping at a friend's house in nearby Waverly.

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The bill is LB811

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