Let them hallucinate: Salvia to be illegal

by mindanarchist | March 12, 2008 at 02:08 pm | 3023 views | 12 comments

Salvia is the new weed, or so the journalists are saying. But salvia sounds a lot more, ahhh, interesting shall we say. A quick fix legal hallucinogen sounds ideal for those days which feel like they'll never end. However, lawmakers in their perpetual attempt to control all things fun (prostitution, alchohol, drugs) are trying to make salvia illegal. See here for another NowPublican's take on the matter.

What lawmakers don't realize is that by making one drug illegal kids don't simply look for the next best legal thing, they start buying from drug dealers and head close to the path of hard drugs. [q
url="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iL07qPrDwTnT98gXva3EWcl0sxXAD8VBHBHG0"]

On
Web sites touting the mind-blowing powers of Salvia divinorum, come-ons
to buy the hallucinogenic herb are accompanied by warnings: "Time is
running out!" and "stock up while you still can."

That's because
salvia is being targeted by lawmakers concerned that the inexpensive
and easy-to-obtain plant could become the next marijuana. Eight states
have already placed restrictions on salvia, and 16 others, including
Florida, are considering a ban or have previously.

"As soon as we
make one drug illegal, kids start looking around for other drugs they
can buy legally. This is just the next one," said Florida state Rep.
Mary Brandenburg, who has introduced a bill to make possession of
salvia a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Some
say legislators are overreacting to a minor problem, but no one
disputes that the plant impairs judgment and the ability to drive.

Native
to Mexico and still grown there, Salvia divinorum is generally smoked
but can also be chewed or made into a tea and drunk.

Called
nicknames like Sally-D, Magic Mint and Diviner's Sage, salvia is a
hallucinogen that gives users an out-of-body sense of traveling through
time and space or merging with inanimate objects. Unlike hallucinogens
like LSD or PCP, however, salvia's effects last for a shorter time,
generally up to an hour.

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jordan

at 14:46 on March 12th, 2008

This drug has been around for ages; I first heard of it five years ago, and in that time I've seen no societal breakdown...

mhindt

at 15:35 on March 12th, 2008

This is another instance of our rights being eroded away.

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AussieSalviaGal

at 15:45 on March 12th, 2008

I grow salvia for their visual impact and not their hallucengic. Salvias are being researched all the time for uses in medicines, it seems a shame to ban this salvia (it is already banned here in Oz) because a minority get high on it.Why dont they ban cigarettes they are more harmful and litter the planet:)

ahabeland

at 16:21 on March 12th, 2008

I agree with some of the other posters, I grow them because they make beautiful plants (I have yet to get them to flower), but I also use them recreationally from time to time, in a control environment. I find it a very spiritual and creative experience, with no harm coming to me or anyone around me.
I'm sure many of your readers and lawmakers have done many stupid things whilst under the influence of alcohol which they conveniently forget about. After all, one of the main reasons for them to ban Salvia divinorum's use is the fact that people hallucinate, which they believe could result in people damaging themselves or others in some way. I know dozens of people who have used it without any problems, surely worldwide evidence stands in favor of it?
The lack of medical research into it worries me, as I feel the pterlant has a lot of potential in that field, personally it is very good for clearing my sinuses for days on end (better than some medication), and have read accounts of people using it to treat migraine.

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the.fixer

at 17:18 on March 12th, 2008

A sign posted at Shambhala Music Festival 2007 by Salvia Divinorum devotees.

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ayadocs

at 18:26 on March 12th, 2008

Salvia Divinorum plant growing near Huatla de Jimenez, in Oaxaca, Mexico

ayadocs has contributed a photo to this story.

matthew_sleigh

at 00:56 on March 14th, 2008

http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/carth.asp?species=Salvia+divinorum&sref=401133

In my considered opinion, Salvia divinorum is not a plant that can be used abusively - except as an object of commerce.

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Talk and Tunes

at 15:59 on March 16th, 2008

He went on a wild ride.

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Ferdinand Trussoff

at 09:43 on March 17th, 2008

"Unlike hallucinogens
like LSD or PCP, however, salvia's effects last for a shorter time,
generally up to an hour."

I'd say the effets last not more than 20 minutes (if you smoke salvia leaves or extracts).

ogal

at 14:09 on March 19th, 2008

I tried Salvia a few times. We are inside another reality and interpret the signals to create this one. Not for the faint of heart.

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Amazonca

at 04:31 on June 16th, 2008

What a bull shit! Salvia has been for centuries and still remains one of the main spices of Italian cuisine. I usually use it preparing meat! It smells wonderful! But I hardly can remember a time when I got dope. Maybe I had to smoke it like cigarettes? Thanks for the article and for the tip.

signature: “I like to drink coffee and smoking cigarettes before bed. I dream faster.” (c) Steven Wright: Coffee and cigarettes

Anonymous (not verified)

at 15:57 on July 10th, 2008

it's not the same as the spice "salvia" but the two are in the same family of plants.