Washington, D.C. --

Synthetic drugs, sold legally as bath salts or incense, have been sending more people to emergency rooms.

Because companies have found a way to skirt state laws, calls have been growing for Washington to step in.

Last year, more than 13,000 users of synthetic drugs were rushed to emergency rooms nationwide, that’s more than 300 percent from the year before.

“Everyone out there knows there is a solution”, said Senator Bob Casey. “We just need to ban it.  It is as simple as that”

But 6 News discovered the process of getting these drugs banned is not so simple.

Last year, the Drug Enforcement Administration slapped temporary emergency bans on eight substances used to make bath salts and synthetic marijuana.

This was to buy time D.E.A. more time to work on a permanent ban, but time is running out.

The emergency bans run out later this year, which is why Congress decided to step in.

Last year, the U.S. House passed a bill banning synthetic drugs.

Similar bills have widespread support in the Senate.

One single senator, Rand Paul from Kentucky, is blocking passage.

Although he declined to go on record with our cameras, critics fear the bill goes too far in restricting chemicals used in scientific research.

Sen. Bob Casey is only of many lawmakers putting pressure on Sen. Paul to change his mind.

“There are certainly talks. I can’t report to you any progress yet but we’re continuing to work on this.”