USA: Salvia Divinorum ban rising after teen suicide

[amd6568]

How long before you think they will make Salvia illegal? The FDA has there eye on it extremely closely. I read you can't test for it, but they always find a way. I honestly can't believe it is legal, but it grows everywhere so the gov't would have to wipe out stuff everywhere; possibly causing damage.

[twintornado]

It can be tested for, look at this paper; 2005-07-25_232530_pichinietal.pdfEdited by: Alfa

[transit]

State Targets Tripped-Out Herb

The Quest To Ban Salvia
Timothy Bolger 06/16/2005 12:01 am

It's available at stores across Long Island. It is a known hallucinogen. And
it is totally legal—for now. Salvia, a member of the mint family, has, up till now, flown under the radar of law enforcement. But it has just been targeted by the New York State Legislature.

The state Senate last week passed a bill proposed by Sen. John Flanagan (R-Smithtown) to create a fine of $500 for selling
Salvia. "This is an interim measure to raise awareness of the drug and allow law enforcement and science to continue further
study before we engage in full criminalization," Flanagan says. A similar bill pending in the state Assembly would make possession of the herb a crime, but one punishable with only a $50 fine. Narcotics detectives in Nassau and Suffolk counties
have little information on the substance, authorities say. A spokesperson for the New York office of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says since Salvia isn't a controlled substance, they're not looking for it. However, no official felt sufficiently knowledgeable about Salvia, short for Salvia divinorum ("Salvia of the seers"), to comment.

Sam Naderi owns Funtazia, a head shop in East Meadow. He says he's been selling the product—at $20 to $60 per gram—to
a growing clientele for about three years. "I figured sooner or later somebody would make a stink about it," Naderi says.
He hadn't heard of the proposed ban, but hopes the state will give warning if it passes. "I wouldn't put it past them to
completely criminalize it, then come down here and fine us," he says. "Hopefully, it won't pass."

Salvia distributors, such as Florida-based Club 13, say the herb is intended to be used for meditation or as incense.
Still, there is little information about it, and scientists don't know how it works because they haven't studied it. Novice horticulturists needn't worry, though: The species of Salvia that gets you high is distinct from the flowering plant or culinary garden sage many grow in their yards. Salvia is indigenous to Mexico and is not a controlled substance, according to the DEA, although the agency does list it as a "drug of concern." The psychoactive ingredient is Salvinorin A. The Food and Drug Administration classifies it as one of its "new drugs," because the agency lacks evidence that it is recognized as safe.
"It is a drug that produces hallucinations similar to those experienced by LSD, and is readily available and legally for
sale on the Internet," Flanagan says. Multiple Nassau and Suffolk retailers have Salvia readily in stock. "This drug is rapidly
increasing in popularity among recreational drug users, especially among young adults and adolescents," Flanagan says, noting that it appears to be most prevalent on college campuses. Salvia divinorum is sold at varying intensities, and smoking as little as one-sixth of a gram can cause intoxication, depending on potency and personal tolerance. The herb, which smells like tea and looks like marijuana, has effects that can last from five minutes to as much as three hours, according to Club 13.

The Assembly bill includes information about high doses that reportedly have made users "get up and lunge around the
room, falling over furniture, babbling incomprehensible nonsense and knocking their heads into walls." Our tester, however, found that a low dose mostly just induced about two minutes of intense giggling. Fun, but not $50 fun. Several states unsuccessfully attempted to ban Salvia in the last three years, but the measures failed because the drug is not chemically related to any illegal substances, Club 13 officials say. Missouri does have a law that prohibits sale to minors.
Congress failed to pass a nationwide ban on the herb last year, but it has been banned in other countries, such as Australia, Denmark and Italy.
Brian Del Re, president of Club 13, says a ban on the drug "just takes another choice away from Americans in pursuit of
liberty." While Salvia retailers statewide may be concerned about their merchandise being so close to illegal, at least they can
enjoy the uptick of sales now that proposals to ban it are putting the herb in the spotlight.

http://www.longislandpress.com/?cp=1...icle&a_id=4377

[sg43]

WOW...is all i can say!

[Eirias]

$60 a gram-- That is the only thing that's a crime IMO!

[unico_walker]

I bet if I started a business selling any random obscure plant saying
it gets you high I could get at least Australia to ban it and proposals
passed elsewhere before anyone stepped back to say hey wait a minute....

[Eirias]

Yup-- Australia bans stuff before they even know what the hell it is or does. It would be interesting to see what would
happen if they started going after DMT-containing plants like France recently has, and they tried to ban Acacia maidenii-- it grows all over the place there.

[RoboCop]

LOUISIANA STATE LIKELY TO BAN SALVIA DIVINORUM ALONG WITH MANY OTHER SPECIES
OF PLANTS AND FUNGI

On February 25, 2005 Representative Michael G. Strain (R) introduced House
Bill 20 to the Louisiana State Legislature. This bill seeks to make it
illegal to possess, manufacture, or distribute hallucinogenic plants that
are intended for human consumption. The text of the bill includes a list of
39 plants and fungi in its definition of the term "hallucinogenic plant."
Only a few of the plants and fungi listed contain compounds that are
controlled substances. Some of the plants are quite obscure, some are
commonly grown as ornamentals, and some are not actually hallucinogenic.
Salvia divinorum is one of the plants listed. The proposed penalty for
possession would be imprisonment with or without hard labor for not more
than 5 years and, in addition, a possible fine of up to $5,000. The proposed
penalty for manufacture or distribution would be imprisonment with or
without hard labor for not less than 2 years nor more than 10 years and, in
addition, a possible fine of up to $20,000.

On May 16, 2005 the bill passed in the House (yeas 98, nays 0). On June 9,
2005 the bill passed in the Senate (yeas 101, nays 0). On June 17, 2005 the
bill was sent to the Governor for executive approval (Strain 2005).

Among other entheogens that will be banned are amanita muscaria, calea, morning glory, mimosa hostilis, yopo seeds, and more.

[ritualkiller]

I live in Louisiana and was planning on buying some Salvia
off the internet. When do you think this banning will take place?
Edited by: ritualkiller

[unico_walker]

It will have to be signed into law by the governor first.



This will be a fucking boon to both prosecutors and defense attornies, its so vague and easy to abusively enforce.

[ritualkiller]

That's pretty fucking shitty.

[sands of time]

They banned calea??? That an herb that aids in dreaming! How does shit like this happen?

[RoboCop]

Yea I was very surprised to see calea on the list, they threw just about every popular entheogen on the list so they have complete power to screw people. Most likely this bill WILL be signed. Very unfortunate.

[uqlfy]

What concerns me is the precedent is now set for the rest of the states to follow. Id suggest to anyone who likes ethnobotanicals to learn how to grow them yourself indoors like you would pot.

[paradies]

Posted on June 23rd at a site dedicated to Salvia information. It looks like, within a year, Salvia will be banned Federally in the USA.


Latest news on proposed NY ban: today is the last day
the legislature is in session and this has a low
priority, putting it off for as much as a year.

I have a friend who works in a medical research
library and he called Assemblyman Heastie's office --
the original sponsor of the bill.

My friend spoke to a legislative assistant who said
that:

1. He knew of no medical research being done on Salvia
(he was then sent 30 abstracts of current research
papers.)

2. Salvia users who use it for legitimate religious
purposes would be exempt (doubtful).

3. Congress is looking to schedule Salvia and this
will happen before the NY legislature considers this
again. (Haven't heard of any proposed bill but need to
look further.)

Bad news: legislators instinctively want to ban all
conscious-altering substances for several reasons.
To maintain the psychic status quo, because they
believe that without legal restrictions people are
inherently evil -- and the truly corrupt want to
subsidize corrupt cops and organized crime.

[Alfa]

CITY SEEKS BAN ON HALLUCINOGEN SALVIA


Drug Available On Ocean Boulevard


Myrtle Beach City Council on Thursday discussed asking the S.C. General Assembly for a statewide ban on a hallucinogenic plant that's being sold on Ocean Boulevard.


The herb Salvia divinorum is legally available in many Boulevard stores. It causes euphoria and disorientation through smoking or chewing the leaf, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration Web site.


However, City Council members Thursday spoke of the plant's ill effects on teenagers who are looking for a legal high.


"Kids are really getting messed up on this stuff," Councilwoman Susan Grissom Means told council members, many of who had not heard of the plant and its extracts.


The council will vote on the request Tuesday night at the Ted C.


Collins Law Enforcement Center. The S.C. General Assembly won't pass additional legislation until it reconvenes in January.


However, council members said they may soon vote to make sale of the plant illegal in city limits.


The extract ranges in price from $20 to hundreds of dollars a gram, depending on the strength. Sellers promise an immediate, short high with hallucinations and say some people don't react well. Several countries and U.S. states have looked to ban the plant, and St.


Peter's, Mo., prohibited sale to those under 18.


The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has stopped short of a ban by labeling the plant as a "chemical of concern."


"There really is an issue with the junk on the Boulevard, and a couple of states are moving in that direction," said Mayor Mark McBride, who supports a ban.


Myrtle Beach police have had no arrests or injuries reported in conjunction with the plant, Capt. David Knipes said Thursday. If sale of the drug were made illegal, police would likely not need extra help to enforce the new rule, he said.


Employees working on Ocean Boulevard were hesitant to speak about the plant Thursday but said it gave a high similar to marijuana. However, they warned against the most potent varieties of the plant.


Also at Thursday's meeting, the council discussed finalizing the contract to buy 40.6 acres from Burroughs & Chapin Co. Inc. to expand the city's convention center.


The $10 million contract will be up for vote Tuesday.


Myrtle Beach Horse-Drawn Carriages will ask the council to vote Tuesday to give the company a permanent license to operate in the city. The company has completed a 30-day trial run on the ring road around Broadway at the Beach.


Frank Norris, one of the owners, said the company wants to expand to other areas of the city after Labor Day because of the high fee to operate at Broadway at the Beach.

[unico_walker]

""It causes euphoria"" '""but said it gave a high similar to marijuana""



Neither of which is true, when both the sellers and the prohibitionists
cannot describe the effects you see how un-recreational salvinorin is.

[svenghali]

Originally Posted by unico_walker

""It causes euphoria"" '""but said it gave a high similar to marijuana""


Neither of which is true, when both the sellers and the prohibitionists
cannot describe the effects you see how un-recreational salvinorin is.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, SWIM would never play with salvinorin for recreational value. It's not that similar to LSD-25 either.
I guess misinformation is key, right? If it makes you feel strange, it should probably be illegal...

[Cure20]

It's available at stores across Long Island. It is a known hallucinogen. And it is totally legal—for now. Salvia, a member of the mint family, has, up till now, flown under the radar of law enforcement. But it has just been targeted by the New York State Legislature.
The state Senate last week passed a bill proposed by Sen. John Flanagan (R-Smithtown) to create a fine of $500 for selling Salvia.
"This is an interim measure to raise awareness of the drug and allow law enforcement and science to continue further study before we engage in full criminalization," Flanagan says. A similar bill pending in the state Assembly would make possession of the herb a crime, but one punishable with only a $50 fine.
Narcotics detectives in Nassau and Suffolk counties have little information on the substance, authorities say. A spokesperson for the New York office of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says since Salvia isn't a controlled substance, they're not looking for it. However, no official felt sufficiently knowledgeable about Salvia, short for Salvia divinorum ("Salvia of the seers"), to comment.
Sam Naderi owns Funtazia, a head shop in East Meadow. He says he's been selling the product—at $20 to $60 per gram—to a growing clientele for about three years.
"I figured sooner or later somebody would make a stink about it," Naderi says.
He hadn't heard of the proposed ban, but hopes the state will give warning if it passes. "I wouldn't put it past them to completely criminalize it, then come down here and fine us," he says. "Hopefully, it won't pass."
Salvia distributors, such as Florida-based Club 13, say the herb is intended to be used for meditation or as incense. Still, there is little information about it, and scientists don't know how it works because they haven't studied it. Novice horticulturists needn't worry, though: The species of Salvia that gets you high is distinct from the flowering plant or culinary garden sage many grow in their yards.
Salvia is indigenous to Mexico and is not a controlled substance, according to the DEA, although the agency does list it as a "drug of concern." The psychoactive ingredient is Salvinorin A. The Food and Drug Administration classifies it as one of its "new drugs," because the agency lacks evidence that it is recognized as safe.
"It is a drug that produces hallucinations similar to those experienced by LSD, and is readily available and legally for sale on the Internet," Flanagan says. Multiple Nassau and Suffolk retailers have Salvia readily in stock. "This drug is rapidly increasing in popularity among recreational drug users, especially among young adults and adolescents," Flanagan says, noting that it appears to be most prevalent on college campuses.
Salvia divinorum is sold at varying intensities, and smoking as little as one-sixth of a gram can cause intoxication, depending on potency and personal tolerance. The herb, which smells like tea and looks like marijuana, has effects that can last from five minutes to as much as three hours, according to Club 13.
The Assembly bill includes information about high doses that reportedly have made users "get up and lunge around the room, falling over furniture, babbling incomprehensible nonsense and knocking their heads into walls." Our tester, however, found that a low dose mostly just induced about two minutes of intense giggling. Fun, but not $50 fun.
Several states unsuccessfully attempted to ban Salvia in the last three years, but the measures failed because the drug is not chemically related to any illegal substances, Club 13 officials say. Missouri does have a law that prohibits sale to minors. Congress failed to pass a nationwide ban on the herb last year, but it has been banned in other countries, such as Australia, Denmark and Italy.
Brian Del Re, president of Club 13, says a ban on the drug "just takes another choice away from Americans in pursuit of liberty."
While Salvia retailers statewide may be concerned about their merchandise being so close to illegal, at least they can enjoy the uptick of sales now that proposals to ban it are putting the herb in the spotlight.

[unico_walker]

"This is an interim measure to raise awareness of the drug and allow
law enforcement and science to continue further study before we engage
in full criminalization,"



The defendant will get an impartial trial, followed by his execution.

[Cure20]

Few police, teachers or counselors have even heard of it, but the drug salvia -- a powerful psychedelic herb from Mexico -- is legal in the U.S. and easily purchased over the counter in Medford or on eBay.

Also known as Diviner's Sage or Sally-D, salvia divinorum is extremely intense, say those who have tried it. They say it is as powerful or more so than LSD and produces vivid, often terrifying hallucinations and out-of-body experiences lasting five to 10 minutes. Effects vary widely; a few users report little or no effect.

The herb is sold at Magic Man in the Bear Creek Shopping Center in various strengths for $11.95 to $44.95. In Ashland, Zen Den doesn't sell it and Puff's used to but stopped.

Theresa Jermain of Medford called police when a 17-year-old high school student, for whom she is guardian, bought salvia at Magic Man and, after smoking it, told her he "got real high" and it was "way too strong."

After checking out the shop, police reported back to Jermain that the drug was not illegal and there was nothing they could do, she said.

The student, "Chris," who asked not to be identified by his full name, said he smoked it with 15 fellow South Medford High School students and that only three of them had a "good trip" -- the rest being "very bad." Students, he added, are little aware of the drug and it's not being much used there.

He described his experience as an "out-of-body experience in a totally different world" followed by a bad "body high," in which he felt sick and awkward and couldn't move. With a cell phone, he videoed another student on salvia hallucinating and trying to crawl out the back window of a car, he said.

Sheriff's Lt. Dewey Patten, commander of the Jackson County Narcotics Enforcement Team, said he wasn't aware of the drug. "I don't know what we'd do if we found someone whacked on it, because it's not illegal," he said.

Jan Janssen, community outreach officer with Ashland Police, said she'd never encountered it, but after consulting the drug Web site erowid.org, said it's surprising that it's legal, considering that most users report unfavorable experiences. Ashland officers trained as drug recognition experts do know the drug and can spot its effects, she said.

Patten consulted a comprehensive drug reference, "Uppers, Downers and All-Arounders," co-written by Ashlander William Cohen, who also lectures and makes films about psychoactive drugs.

Salvia, wrote Cohen, is similar to PCP and originates among the Mazatec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico, who use it to induce dreamlike hallucinations, delirium and out-of-body experiences, so as to seek out the causes of illness.

The effects, or "trip," last up to 10 minutes, tapering off over half an hour, with the nature of the trip dependent on the person's mind-set and surroundings.

"Cliff," a 19-year-old from Ashland who asked not to be identified, called salvia an "anti-drug drug" because his trip was so intense that it turned him off alcohol and drugs.

"In my first trip, my legs turned to a waterfall of tears," said Cliff. "The second time, I thought, seriously, that I had died and that my soul was being sucked out of me. It was the most intense thing I've ever done. Coming off it, I felt needles were coming out of my body. It definitely had teaching value because I was abusing ( alcohol and drugs ) and it gave me a lot of insight about what I was doing."

Magic Man owner John Hopf said salvia is sold as an incense or meditative aid like sage -- and that customers learn about it on the Internet and come in to buy it. Although Hopf said he knows of no psychedelic properties for the plant, his store had a stack of printouts from a government Web site warning that salvia is a powerful hallucinogen.

"Pete," 27, another Medford resident who used salvia and asked not to be identified, said he had bought salvia from Magic Man seven or eight times. He described it as "a meditative thing that helps you feel a reality outside the ordinary reality and become one with yourself, as a unity."

He added, "It's very personal, not smoke-a-bowl-and-relax."

"Max," an 18-year-old senior at North Medford High School who bought salvia last week at Magic Man and declined to be identified, said friends suggested he try it. "I'm curious. I'll probably feel good for a while and hallucinate. They said it was worth the money for the feeling you get."

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration has the plant under review based on its potential abuse, availability and effects on users, said DEA public affairs officer Lauren Alder in Washington, D.C.

"The DEA lists it as 'of concern,' but just because it's not listed as a controlled substance doesn't mean it's healthy or safe," said Alder. "The medical profession stresses the danger of it."

The DEA Web page on salvia -- http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/states...ntel_bulletin_ salvia.html - -- classifies it as a psychoactive terpenoid, a family that includes marijuana. It produces "profound hallucinations," with effects similar to mescaline, the DEA bulletin said.

The DEA welcomes comments at its Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section: 202-307-8570 ( fax ) or 202-307-7183 ( phone ).

Three years ago, staff Oregonian columnist Margie Boule branded salvia "the most powerful natural hallucinogen known on earth."

"Salvia divinorum is a wild ride," wrote Boule. "This is not a drug that simply makes people play Beatles' records backward. It induces powerful hallucinations that sometimes are terrifying."

Salvia is illegal in Australia, Italy, Denmark, Norway and South Korea. California Rep. Joe Baca in 2002 introduced a bill to ban it in the U.S., but, says erowid.org, it is chemically different from schedule I and II drugs, so it is not covered by the federal law used to ban drugs.

SALVIAsalvia divinorum

Other names: Diviner's Sage, Sally-D

Cost: Sold in various strengths for from $11.95 to $44.95 a bag

Use: Similar to PCP, intense hallucinations lasting for 5-10 minutes when the drug is smoked

Legal use: An incense or meditative aid, akin to sage

Federal position: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has the plant under review. The government classifies it as a psychoactive terpenoid, with effects similar to mescaline

Why is it still legal? Chemically differences from schedule I and II drugs mean it is not covered by the federal law used to ban drug

Where is it banned? Australia, Italy, Denmark, Norway and South Korea

Salvia web site: erowid.org

[Alfa]

HIGHLY POTENT SUBSTANCE MAKES WAVES AS IT HITS STORE SHELVES


A highly potent, vision-inducing and medicinal plant of Mexico is making waves in Medicine Hat as people are using the substance recreationally to achieve an inebriated state similar to the effects of marijuana or magic mushrooms.


Salvia Divinorum, a member of the mint family which also includes herbs such as oregano and basil, is not listed as a controlled substance and can therefore be sold like cigarettes at local convenience stores.


A handout provided to those who purchase the product says the herb can help users achieve varied levels of effects, including stoning, altered thought processes, LSD-like psychedelic effects, voyaging or dreamlike feelings, identity loss and anesthesia.


The handout offers guidelines to users, including the suggestion of having a "sitter" present to keep the user safe. The information warns sitters to keep touching to a minimum, as "the confused tripper may think your touching is an assault or rape and react to the imagined danger." Other warnings include using the herb indoors, not to drive under the influence, not to mix it with alcohol and drugs, to turn off the telephone, hide any guns or knives from within reach and to lie down on a bed.


The sheet also says the herb is the "most potent hallucinogenic substance known to man." It says the substance can help people meditate and is "a ticket to a horrifying and beautiful place. It is unlike anything you can ever imagine."


Allen Crocker, owner of Hat News and Tobacco sells several types of the herb, including some of lesser potency. He said the herb is made in the United States and can be purchased at other stores or over the Internet.


"It's been around probably for, I would say five years anyway," said Crocker, adding it is similar to herbs Indians may have used.


"There's only one state in the U.S. that doesn't allow it, which is Louisiana."


The store has a laminated copy of the handout, which Crocker said was provided by the manufacturer. He said there is nothing in the herb which could be considered harmful as long as people follow the listed instructions.


"If they take it not following instructions, they're gonna' have some bad results," said Crocker.


Customers wishing to purchase the product must be 18 years of age, just like those who purchase alcohol or tobacco.


He added the information package says the herb is "neither a stimulant, a sedative, a narcotic nor a tranquilizer."


Dr. Noorali Bharwani said he has not heard of the herb yet, but based on the information provided on the handout, no doctor would recommend using such a product.


"If something is sold off the counter, not tested by scientists, then I don't think they should be taken by anybody," said Bharwani. "I would consider it very dangerous, especially if it's mood-altering medication -- you never know what's going to happen.


"If they want to go into meditation, they can do that without drugs. They just need a quiet place, turn off the lights and relax."


Sergeant Brent Secondiak of the Medicine Hat Police Service said the herb is marketed towards people who would smoke marijuana, but ultimately it is "a waste of money," or a "gimmick."


"Anything you inhale quickly is not good for you," said Secondiak.


He said like sniffing glue, this substance is not controlled by the Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA) but is not one people should be using.


"We don't condone the use of it."


He said he does not believe the substance will ever be controlled because it is a herb and it is not considered addictive.

[DrugPhreak]

"Similar to PCP, intense hallucinations lasting for 5-10 minutes when the drug is smoked"


The DuhEA has a page on their website that states it's like LSD mixed with PCP.I really feel sorry for all the people that actually believe this fascists propaganda and have never even used it before.

[mrpickles88]

Originally Posted by DrugPhreak

"Similar to PCP, intense hallucinations lasting for 5-10 minutes when the drug is smoked"


The DuhEA has a page on their website that states it's like LSD mixed with PCP.I really feel sorry for all the people that actually believe</span> this fascists</span> propaganda and have never even used it before.

Lol, I agree with that.



It can get quiet frustrating when they start to make claims like this.

[Demonslayer]

It definitely had teaching value because I was abusing ( alcohol and drugs ) and it gave me a lot of insight about what I was doing."

Give it to people who have real drug abuse problems and let the rest of us smoke what we want. Give it to alcoholics, compulsive gamblersand overeaters. Salvia will show you what is right.