New Laws Aim to Keep Drugs Away from Schools

A trio of new laws in Illinois are designed to keep drugs away from schools.

One law increases the penalty for making methamphetamine near schools. The second bill adds some synthetic drugs to the list of controlled substances that are illegal to manufacture or deliver. The drugs have been available online and can be especially dangerous for high school students.

The third law makes it illegal for anyone under 18 to purchase or possess any product that contains the herbal drug Kratom. It also makes it illegal to provide the drug to a minor. Kratom can mimic the effects of heroin.

All three laws take effect January 1.