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(AP) -- ATLANTA (AP) - Gov. Sonny Perdue has signed a bill that bans the drug K2, also known as synthetic marijuana.

Perdue said on Monday he had signed the bill, sponsored by Rep. Jay Neal, R-Lafayette, and Sen. Ed Harbison, D-Columbus.

At the time the legislation was being considered, Harbison said the measure was needed to protect young peiople from products that may cause irreversible harm to their bodies. Perdue calls it a potent drug that can be difficult to detect.

K2 is also known as spice. It drew attention earlier this year when two teens were hospitalized at North Fulton Medical after smoking it.

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