Legal status of Salvia divinorum

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Salvia divinorum is legal in most countries and, within the United States, legal in the majority of States. However, some politicians have called for its prohibition. Most of these proposals have not made it into law, with motions having failed, stalled or otherwise died, for example in the United Kingdom, at national level in the United States, and at more local level within States such as Alaska, California, Illinois, Oregon and Wyoming, though the situation is subject to further change depending on the outcome of more recent bills as yet still at the proposal stage.

A reason for Salvia's favourable legal status so far is that there's been little real evidence to suggest that its use is problematic. Salvia divinorum is not a newly discovered or synthesised drug. It has been revered for perhaps centuries by the Mazatec people of Oaxaca, Mexico as a sacred plant, capable of facilitating spiritual experiences. It is a plant that has been available in the States and other countries since the 1990's, following the experiment and report of Daniel Siebert and others.[1] The rise of the Internet since the mid-1990s saw the growth of many businesses selling dried Salvia leaves, extracts and other preparations. During the 10-15 years in which it has become more available in modern Western culture police have not been reporting it as a significant issue with regard to public order offences. Medical experts, accident and emergency rooms have not been reporting cases that suggest particular health concerns. Salvia divinorum is not generally understood to be toxic or addictive.

Despite this, some have succeeded in pushing though their anti-Salvia laws, such as in Australia (the first country to ban it), and in a few American States. To justify prohibition some politicians have argued that Salvia effects are "LSD-Like" and that this alone is sufficient to raise alarms about its safety [1]. Many Salvia media stories also headline with comparisons to LSD. However, while LSD and Salvia's active constituent salvinorin A may have comparative potencies, in the sense that both can produce their effects with low dosage amounts, they are otherwise quite different. LSD is a synthesised drug not found in nature whereas Salvinorin only occurs in nature and has yet to be manufactured in a laboratory. The two substances are not chemically similar or related. They are ingested in different ways. They produce different effects, which manifest themselves over different timescales. The effects of Salvia when smoked typically last for only a few minutes as compared to LSD, whose effects can persist for 8-10 hours. News stories typically do not mention this significant difference in timescale and in particular fail to report Salvia's much shorter duration of effect.

For more details on this topic, see Salvia divinorum.

Another argument made against Salvia, while conceding that not much is known about it and that it may not be a particular problem at the moment, is that legislation is needed to stop it becoming a problem in the future. For example, Senator Randy Christmann (R) stated - "we need to stop this before it gets to be a huge problem not after it gets to be a huge problem" [2] and Assemblyman Jack Conners argued -"Salvia divinorum use may not be a runway epidemic, but it certainly is a phenomenon that warrants attention. We should take preventive steps now to prevent wholesale problems later on...". [3]

There also seems to be the implication that because a few other States or countries have banned Salvia divinorum then it follows that there must obviously be a problem with it. For example, in October 2005 MP John Mann raised an ultimately unsuccessful Early Day Motion calling for Salvia to be banned in the UK, saying - "The Australians have clearly found a problem with it. There's obviously a risk in people taking it." [4]

While not objecting to some form of legal control, in particular with regard to the sale to minors or sale of enhanced high-strength extracts, most Salvia proponents otherwise argue against more prohibitive measures.[2] Some countries and States such as Missouri have imposed the strictest Schedule I or equivalent classification against Salvia divinorum even in its natural and untreated form.

Salvia's supporters argue that such extreme measures are mainly due to a particular cultural taboo about certain altered states of consciousness - an inherent prejudice rather than the actual balance of evidence. They point to inconsistencies in attitudes toward other more toxic and/or addictive drugs such as alcohol and nicotine.[3]

Those advocating consideration of Salvia divinorum’s potential for beneficial use in a modern context argue that more could be learned from Mazatec culture, where Salvia is not really associated with notions of drug taking at all and it is rather considered as a spiritual sacrament. In light of this it is argued that Salvia divinorum could be better understood more positively as an entheogen rather than pejoratively as a hallucinogen.

Other entheogenic plants with traditions of spiritual use include peyote (and other psychoactive cacti), iboga, virola, ayahuasca (an admixture of plants containing DMT + MAOI), and various types of psychoactive fungi.

In fact, US legislation specifically allows two of these to be used in a spiritual context. The Native American Church is allowed to use peyote and Uniao do Vegetal (or UDV) is permitted ayahuasca. Although not consistently granted (again varying from State to State), the principal grounds for such concessions are Constitutional,[4] with further grounds following from the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

There haven't been any publicised prosecutions recorded under any Salvia laws. Legislation may prove difficult to police. The plant has a nondescript appearance; the leaves are not distinctive and it does not have a distinctive odour like cannabis. Salvia divinorum looks like and can be grown as an ordinary houseplant without the need of special equipment such as hydroponics or high-power lights.

Contents

[edit] Australia

As of 1st June 2002, Australia became the first country to ban Salvia and salvinorin [5]. According to the Australian Drugs and Poisons Committee Salvia had not yet shown evidence of damage or threat to public health/safety but had potential to be abused. In a statement which has been criticised as self-negating the committee said, "There was no evidence of traditional therapeutic use other than in shamanistic healing rituals".

[edit] Denmark

With effect from 23rd August 2003, Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A were classed as 'category B' drugs in Danish law. Category B includes psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, amphetamine, and several others substances that are only legal for medicinal and scientific purposes. Possession carries a penalty of up to 2 years in prison. [2]

[edit] Finland

Finland passed legislation in August 2002 making it illegal to import Salvia divinorum without a prescription from a doctor. [2]

[edit] Sweden

Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A were added to Sweden's list of controlled substances with effect from 1st April 2006. [2]

[edit] Spain

The sale of Salvia divinorum has been illegal since February 6 2004. The law only prohibits commerce. It does not make possession or use a crime.[5]

[edit] Italy

In August 2004, the Italian government decreed salvinorin A "a substance with hallucinogenic properties that may cause conditions of abuse and can manifest latent psychiatric pathologies like acute psychosis and depressive psychosis even in an irreversible way" and put it and the plant Salvia divinorum on their ‘table I’ of outlawed psychotropic substances in March 2005. The Italian government referred to an evaluation of Salvia made by the Italian National Health Institute, assessing it as "a powerful natural hallucinogen" to justify their decision. The Italian Ministry of Heath Decree (in Italian) (Google translated into English). Cultivation or possession of more than 150 mg of Salvinorin A carries a penalty from 6 to 20 years in prison.

[edit] Canada

There has been media interest drawing attention to Salvia divinorum's availability in Canada [6], but there are currently no plans to regulate the herb. It can be found at some stores dealing in "New Age" merchandise and head shops, though it is often expensive to purchase.

[edit] United Kingdom

In September 2001, in answer to a parliamentary question from Ann Widdecombe MP, asking the Secretary of State for the Home Office "what plans he has to review the legal status of the hallucinogen Salvia divinorum", Bob Ainsworth, a parliamentary Under-Secretary, for the UK Home Office, stated that there were "no current plans to review its legal status" [7].

Following a local newspaper story [8] in October 2005 Bassetlaw MP John Mann raised an Early Day Motion calling for Salvia divinorum to be banned in the UK (EDM796) [9]. The motion only received 11 signatures. It has not been debated or further escalated.

[edit] United States

The DEA has indicated on its website that it is aware of Salvia divinorum and is evaluating the plant for possible scheduling.

In late 2002 Rep. Joe Baca (D- California) introduced a bill (Congress bill HR 5607) to schedule Salvia as a controlled substance at the national level. Those opposed to Joe Baca’s bill include Daniel Siebert, who sent a letter to Congress arguing against the proposed legislation, and the Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics (CCLE), who sent key members of the US Congress a report on Salvia divinorum and its active principle,[6] along with letters from an array of scientists who expressed concern that scheduling Salvia divinorum would negatively impact important research on the plant. Baca’s bill did not pass.

Despite this a number of States have proposed their own legislation. Only Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Delaware have so far passed laws prohibiting of Salvia divinorum. Louisiana has provisions that allows possession of the plant when it is not intended for human consumption, and in Oklahoma natural strength Salvia divinorum is legal - only extract-enhanced leaves are prohibited. Salvia divinorum remains legal in all other States. However, though some bills have died during session, the situation is subject to further change depending on the outcome of more recent bills as yet still at the proposal stage.

[edit] State summary

This table summarizes the status of various State proposals for Salvia legislation, with links to following detail State by State.

State Bill ref. Proposed date Classification Status Proposer Salvinorin A included? Notes
Alaska SB313 05-Apr-2006 Schedule IIA not passed / died Sen. Gene Therriault No  
SB38 16-Jan-2007 proposed Yes  
California AB259 05-Feb-2007 Schedule I failed passage in committee (reconsideration granted - no date set) Assembly Member Anthony Adams No, then Yes proposed bill wording amended 12-Mar-2007 to include salvinorin A
Delaware SB259 16-Mar-2006 Schedule I Passed - 02-May-2006 Sen. Karen Peterson No aka Brett's Law
Georgia SB295 8-Mar-2007 'misdemeanor' proposed
(proposed House - passed Senate)		 Sen. John Bulloch Yes n/a possession, cultivation, harvesting ... for aesthetic, landscaping, or decorative purposes. Also exempts research at Georgia universities and use of Salvinorin A as a legal homeopathic.
Illinois SB2589 19-Jan-2006 Schedule I not passed / sine die Sen. John J. Millner No  
HB457 26-Jan-2007 proposed Rep. Dennis M. Reboletti No Salvinorin A not mentioned, but bill wording incl. "any extract" from plant
Iowa HSB133 SSB1051 18-Jan-2007 Schedule I proposed Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy Yes  
Louisiana HB20 25-Feb-2005 Schedule I Passed - 15-Aug-2005 Rep. Michael G. Strain No First State to ban Sd.
Maine LD66 Dec-2006 prohibit sale to minors proposed Rep. Chris Barstow No, then Yes Amended - originally proposed 'Schedule Z' classification
Missouri HB165 05-Jan-2005 Schedule I not passed / died Rep. Rachel L. Bringer No  
HB633 23-Feb-2005 Passed - 28-Aug-2005 Rep Scott A. Lipke
and Rep. Rachel L. Bringer		 Yes  
New Jersey AB3139 06-Apr-2006 Schedule I proposed Assemblywoman Linda Stender Yes  
SB1867 15-May-2006 Schedule I proposed Sen. Stephen Sweeney Yes  
New York S4987 18-Apr-2005 prohibit sale being considered by the State Assembly Sen. John J. Flanagan No  
North Dakota SB2317 15-Jan-2007 Schedule I proposed Sen. Dave Oehlke,  Sen. Randell Christmann et al. No  
Oklahoma HB2485 06-Mar-2006 prohibit extracts Passed - 26-May-2006 Rep. John Nance Yes enhanced, concentrated, and chemically or physically altered
Oregon SB592 22-Feb-2003 Schedule I not passed / died      
HB3485 15-Mar-2003 not passed / died      
HB2494 25-Jan-2007 proposed Rep. John Lim Yes  
Pennsylvania HB2657 02-May-2006 Schedule I not passed / died Rep. James Casorio et al. Yes  
SB1217 16-Jun-2006 not passed / died Sen. Lisa Boscola et al. No  
Tennessee HB2909 /SB3247
/TCA 39-17-452		 15-Feb-2006 Schedule I Passed - 01-Jul-2006 Rep. Park M. Strader Yes not an offense to possess, plant, cultivate, grow, or harvest Sd for aesthetic, landscaping, or decorative purposes
Texas HB2347 02-Mar-2007 Penalty Group 2 proposed Rep. Charles "Doc" Anderson Yes Penalty Group 2 of the Texas Controlled Substances Act
SB1796 09-Mar-2007 prohibit sale to minors proposed Sen. Craig Estes No proposed concurrently to HB2347 above
Utah HB190 18-Jan-2007 Schedule I not passed / died Rep. Paul Ray No, then Yes  
Virginia HB2844 10-Jan-2007 Schedule I not passed / died Delegate John M. O'Bannon, III only Any material, compound, mixture, or preparation, which contains any quantity of Salvinorin A (another name: Divinorin A). - The plant Salvia divinorum is not mentioned
Wyoming HB49 13-Feb-2006 Schedule I not passed / died Rep. Stephen Watt No  

[edit] Alaska

On April 5, 2006 Senator Gene P. Therriault (R) proposed adding Salvia divinorum to Alaska's list of Schedule IIA controlled substances. The bill died in committee. On January 16, 2007 he proposed another bill (Senate Bill 38). The bill has not yet come up for vote.

[edit] California

On February 5, 2007 Assembly Member Anthony Adams (R) proposed Assembly Bill 259. The bill wording was amended on March 12, 2007 to include salvinorin A. The bill proposed adding Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A to Califorina's list of Schedule I controlled substances.

The bill was referred to the Committee on Public Safety with due date for public hearing March 27, 2007 [10] [11]. The bill analysis [12] indicated that opposition to the bill was registered by, among others, Daniel Siebert and the Drug Policy Alliance. The bill was defeated in Committee by a 3-2 vote. A reconsideration was granted but no date has yet been set.

[edit] Delaware

On January 23, 2006 Delaware teenager Brett Chidester took his own life by climbing into a tent with a charcoal grill - he died of carbon monoxide poisoning [13]. In an essay found after his death, he wrote "Salvia allows us to give up our senses and wander in the interdimensional time and space,... Also, and this is probably hard for most to accept, our existence in general is pointless. Final point: Us earthly humans are nothing." Although being written earlier, Brett’s notes have subsequently been presented in media reports as if they were part of his suicide note. Brett's suicide note did not mention Salvia. There are arguably more relevant factors, with the extent and significance of Brett’s use of alcohol being a matter of contention [14], and it being reported that Brett had been suffering from depression anyway. Given the details of Brett's suicide, in particular its premeditated nature and slow method, it is unlikely that he was immediately under Salvia divinorum’s influence at the time of his death. There have been no other reported cases of Salvia related suicides anywhere else in the world. Also, Brett had told his parents that he had actually ceased his experimentation with the plant.

Despite the doubts that have been expressed about the lack of evidence against Salvia in this case [15], Senator Karen Peterson sponsored Senate Bill 259, "Brett’s Law", which passed as state legislation classifying Salvia divinorum as a Schedule I controlled substance.

Senator Karen Peterson and Brett’s parents Kathy and Dennis Chidester have subsequently continued to campaign for and support Schedule I legislation beyond their home state of Delaware. [16]

[edit] Georgia

On March 8, 2007 Senator John Bulloch, (R-Ochlocknee), filed Senate Bill SB295 which proposes that "It shall be unlawful to knowingly produce, manufacture, distribute, possess, or possess with intent to produce, manufacture, or distribute the active chemical ingredient in the hallucinogenic plant Salvia divinorum A" (sic). [17]

Violation of the proposed law would be considered a misdemeanour under Georgia's code. It would not apply to "the possession, planting, cultivation, growing, or harvesting of such hallucinogenic plant strictly for aesthetic, landscaping, or decorative purposes".

Sen. John Bulloch reportedly saw a report on an Atlanta television news station about the increased use of Salvia divinorum. He was quoted as saying - "I thought, 'Why hasn't somebody already jumped on this?'" before filing Senate Bill 295 "I hurriedly got legislative counsel to draft the bill." ... "Everything that I read about it is it's considered to be a hallucinogenic drug," ... "A lot of the reading that I've found on it says that it's gives a quicker and more intense high than LSD." [18]. Senator Don Thomas (R-Dalton), a physician and member of the reviewing Senate Health and Human Services Committee, was reported as saying - "I just know about the publicity of the dangers of it, and the use of it, so my first impression is to ban anything of that nature". [19]

[edit] Illinois

On January 19, 2006 Senator John J. Millner (R) introduced Senate Bill 2589 to the Illinois State Legislature. This bill sought to add Salvia divinorum to that state’s list of Schedule I controlled substances. The Bill failed to pass as the session ended sine die (adjourned with no date set for resumption).

On January 26, 2007 Representative Dennis M. Reboletti (R) filed House Bill HB457 which proposes Schedule I classification for Salvia divinorum (including "the seeds thereof, any extract from any part of that plant, and every compound, [...] derivative, mixture, or preparation of that plant").

The bill moved on to the Senate after passing its third House reading (166 yeas 0 nays) on March 20, 2007.

[edit] Iowa

On January 18, 2007 the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy proposed House/Senate Study Bills HSB133 and SSB1051. These bills propose classification of Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A as Schedule I controlled substances.

[edit] Louisiana

Effective from August 8, 2005 (signed into law on June 28, 2005) Louisiana Act No 159 made 40 plants, including Salvia divinorum, illegal if sold for human consumption. It is still legal to own the plants. Simple possession of an illegal form of Salvia is a felony for which the maximum sentence is 5 years, production (even for personal use) or distribution (even for free) has a maximum sentence of 10 years and a minimum sentence of 2 years; in addition the defendant can even be sentenced to hard labor for either offense.

[edit] Maine

In December 2006 Rep. Chris Barstow proposed legislation for the State of Maine. According to reports Barstow believes Salvia "is a drug very similar to LSD" and "We need to have it banned as soon as possible" [20]. Barstow's proposed bill, proposed that Salvia divinorum be broadly classed the same as marijuana (classified as 'Schedule Z' in Maine). Under the proposed bill possession of Salvia divinorum is a 'Class E' crime , and trafficking or furnishing of Salvia divinorum is a 'Class D' crime.

Barstow's action followed an approach from Kimberly A. Johnson, director of the Maine Office of Substance Abuse [21], after she had seen Salvia divinorum on sale in her home town of Gorham. Johnson indicated that she would not be satisfied only with the enforcement of age restrictions to control Salvia, asserting - "This drug is just as dangerous to someone who’s 30 as someone who’s 17". [22]

Lawmakers on the Criminal Justice Committee amended the proposed bill on February 6, 2007. The amendment proposed regulating Salvia only for minors, so that selling or providing Salvia divinorum to anyone under the age of 18 would be a criminal offence. Possession by a minor would be a civil violation, punishable by a fine, community service. Adults 18 and over could continue to legally purchase and use the herb.

According to news reports [23], several committee members at the work session questioned the need to criminalize a drug that hadn't been causing a problem and apparently has little or no addictive potential.

The amended measure has yet to go to the full Legislature for debate.

[edit] Missouri

On January 5, 2005 Representative Rachel L. Bringer introduced House Bill 165 to the Missouri State legislature. This bill sought to add Salvia divinorum to that state’s list of Schedule I controlled substances. Despite the CCLE sending a letter to Representative Bringer advising of its earlier report to Congress[6] the following month saw the introduction of House Bill 633, which sought to place Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A in Schedule I and also proposed to add 12 other substances to Missouri’s list of controlled substances. This second bill was introduced on February 23, 2005 by Representative Scott A. Lipke (R) and Representative Bringer. On August 28, 2005 the bill was incorporated into section 195.017 of the state’s drug regulation statutes. Thus, Salvia divinorum became a Schedule I substance in the state of Missouri. Possession is a Class C felony under MRS 195.202, which allows a maximum sentence of 7 years.

[edit] New Jersey

On April 6, 2006 Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D) announced that she was proposing legislation to ban Salvia divinorum. On May 15, 2006 Senator Stephen Sweeney (D) proposed Senate Bill 1867 to the State Senate. Assemblywoman Stender introduced an identical bill to the State Assembly on May 22, 2006. It is designated Assembly Bill 3139 and is cosponsored by Assemblyman Jack Conners (D) and Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D). If passed, these bills would classify Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A as Schedule I controlled substances in New Jersey. Neither bill has come up for a vote.

[edit] New York

New York is considering a bill (S04987) proposed by Senator John J. Flanagan (R) that would place heavy civil penalties on the sale of the plant.

[edit] North Dakota

On January 15, 2007 Senators Dave Oehlke (R) and Randel Christmann (R), together with Representative Brenda Heller (R) proposed Senate Bill 2317 to classify Salvia divinorum as Schedule I controlled substance.

[edit] Oklahoma

Representative's John Nance (R) bill HB 2485 was passed into law in the State of Oklahoma on the May 26, 2006. The wording of the bill - "salvia divinorum [that] has been enhanced, concentrated or chemically or physically altered"[24] - means that its particular focus is on high-strength extracts, rather than untreated natural strength Salvia divinorum leaf or plants.

[edit] Oregon

During the year 2003 two bills were proposed to criminalize Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A. Both bills died upon adjournment of the Oregon Judiciary Committee. House Bill 3485 (introduced March 15, 2003) sought to impose particularly severe penalties. If it had passed, possession would have been punishable by a maximum of 10 years' imprisonment, a $200,000 fine, or both. Delivery would have been punishable by a maximum of 20 years' imprisonment, a $300,000 fine, or both. Senate Bill 592 only proposed to make delivery a crime. If it had passed, delivery would have been punishable by a maximum of one year's imprisonment, a $5,000 fine, or both.

Efforts to ban Salvia divinorum were renewed in on January 27, 2007. Representative John Lim (R) introduced House Bill 2494 to the Oregon State Legislature. If passed, this legislation would make Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A Schedule I controlled substances in that state. Possession would be punishable by a maximum of 1 year’s imprisonment, a $6250 fine, or both. Manufacture or delivery would be punishable by a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $375,000 fine, or both.

Rep. John Lim has been quoted as saying - "From what I understand this drug is at least as dangerous as marijuana or LSD", and Seth Hatmaker, a spokesman for Lim - "I think it's only a matter of time before we find people addicted to this stuff". [25] There is little or no research evidence to support these views. In fact, the scientific consensus is mostly to the contrary. Salvia divinorum is not generally understood to be addictive.

[edit] Tennessee

Tennessee has passed a law (HB2909/SB3247/TCA 39-17-452) that makes knowingly possessing, producing, manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to produce, manufacture, or distribute the active chemical ingredient in the hallucinogenic plant Salvia divinorum a Class A misdemeanor. The law was to originally make it a felony, but it was amended. The Senate Bill was sponsored by Senator Tim Burchett (email) (R-Knoxville). It was signed into law on May 19, 2006 and went into effect on July 1, 2006. Tim Burchett stated, "We have enough problems with illegal drugs as it is without people promoting getting high from some glorified weed that’s been brought up from Mexico. The only people I’ve heard from who are opposed to making it illegal are those who are getting stoned on it." [26] [27] [28]

[edit] Texas

On March 3, 2007 Representative Charles "Doc" Anderson (R-Waco) filed House Bill 2347 which proposes the addition of salvinorin A and Salvia divinorum to Penalty Group 2 of the Texas Controlled Substances Act. On March 28, 2007 the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence help a video recorded public hearing, 56 minutes 30 seconds into which HB2347 was raised.

Concurrently to Representative Anderson's proposed House bill, Senator Craig Estes (R) filed Senate Bill 1796 on March 9, 2007. In contrast to the more restrictive House bill, the Senate bill simply proposes an age restriction - prohibiting the sale of Salvia divinorum to persons younger than 18 years of age.

[edit] Utah

On November 11, 2006, the morning after initial stories were broadcast on local news channel KSL [29], House Representative Paul Ray proposed legislation to ban Salvia divinorum in the State of Utah, saying - "It was upsetting to see we have a drug of that strength that's legal." and "We're basically going to make it illegal to possess or sell. Period." [30]. Ray's bill (HB190) proposed Schedule I classification.

Salvia divinorum is actively discussed by the local Utah media. On December 12, 2006, KSL editorial director Duane Cardall published a stance against Salvia divinorum on behalf of the news station as a whole. Cardall's piece closes: "In KSL's view, the legislature should take action to control the sale of Salvia Divinorum before the illicit use of the accessible hallucinogen spreads. That wasn't done in a timely way with Meth, and now we have a devastating epidemic. Preemptive action now with "Sally D" would likely spare countless families the horror of losing a loved one to the relentless tentacles of drug abuse." [31].

KSL frequently publishes comments from its readers regarding its editorials [32]. As of February 8, 2007 KSL had published 22 comments regarding this particular editoral, all of which openly disagree with the station's stance.

These opinions were not reflected in Representative's votes. The bill status was 'House/ passed 3rd reading' (Yeas - 68, Nays - 0) on February 22, 2007. However, the bill did not get enacted during its legislative session and instead was sent to the House file for defeated bills on February 28, 2007.

[edit] Virginia

On January 10, 2007 Delegate John M. O'Bannon, III (R) filed house bill HB2844 which proposed that any material, compound, mixture, or preparation, which contains any quantity of salvinorin A be classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. The plant Salvia divinorum was not itself mentioned. The bill failed to pass the initial committee stage. [33]

[edit] Wisconsin

According to Fox reporter Myra Sanchick [34] following a Milwaukee local news TV story [35] aired on February 14, 2007, Wisconsin state lawmaker Sheldon Wasserman, who had never heard of the drug before - now wants to make it a Schedule I controlled substance.

[edit] Wyoming

On February 13, 2006 Representative Stephen Watt (R) proposed adding Salvia divinorum to Wyoming's list of Schedule I controlled substances (House Bill 0049). The bill died without coming up for a vote.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Montgomery, Ott & McKenna 1994.
  2. ^ a b c d Siebert (Legal status).
  3. ^ Nutt et al. 2007.
  4. ^ Madison 1789.
  5. ^ Spanish Government 2004.
  6. ^ a b Boire et al. 2002.

[edit] Citations

[edit] Media stories

[edit] UK

[edit] Canada

[edit] US

- see also "State lawmaker wants to regulate new hallucinogenic drug", The Boston Globe, 2006-12-29.
- and "State officials hoping to ban sale of salvia herb to minors", Portland Press Herald, 2006-12-30.
- Follow-up story: "Lawmaker Responds to Investigative Report on Dangerous Herb", 2006-11-28.
- Cardall, Duane. KSL Editorial, 2006-12-01.
- viewer feedback - asx video (save & use media player).

[edit] External links

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