Gov. Tom Corbett signed the ban Thursday during a ceremony in the state capitol.

The ban includes the synthetic drugs known as blizzard, or "bath salts," K-2, or synthetic marijuana, as well as other synthetic drugs, a release from the governor's office said.

Corbett stated in a release that he urged stores to comply with the law immediately.

"Sadly, we have had far too many tragic examples in Pennsylvania of just what kind of impact this drug can have,'' Corbett said. "In Blair County, two friends stabbed each other in a dispute over a bath salt container."

Under the new law, the release stated that a conviction for a first offense for delivery or possession with the intent to deliver carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Conviction of simple possession of the substance carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $5,000 fine, the release stated.

"In Carbon County, a man held police at bay with an assault rifle for hours," Corbett said. "In Lackawanna County, a man broke into a monastery and stabbed a priest. Police said all of them had been using bath salts.''

The new law takes effect in 60 days. At least 20 others states have banned bath salt sales.