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Hallucinogenic Herb, Salvia,
Now On DEA Hit List
US Wants It Classified Illegal
The Windsor Star
6-30-3
| An innocent looking herb that wouldn't warrant a second glance
if spotted in any Windsor garden packs such a psychedelic wallop the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration wants it classified as an illegal drug
-- along the lines of cocaine and heroin. But in Canada, as well as most of the world, salvia divinorum is not a controlled substance and can be easily ordered through head shops or on the Internet -- and there's not much Canadian law enforcement agencies can do about it. The little-known herb, a type of sage grown in Mexico, began showing up about four years ago in the southern United States. Since then it has slowly been creeping northward, mostly through Internet sales. When the dried leaves are smoked, chewed or boiled in a potent tea, the herb can produce intense hallucinations. The effects depend on the amount consumed, but users describe complex visionary states, vivid colours, out-of-body experiences and even merging with inanimate objects. It's been described by some as a very pleasant experience, though others report having terrifying trips. All sources recommended at least one "sitter," or good friend who did not consume the plant, to prevent people under the effect from harming themselves or others. The dramatic effect of the drug is not well understood by health officials, although salvia divinorum has been used in religious ceremonies by the Mazatec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico, for centuries. Few law enforcement officials are even aware of the existence of salvia divinorum, also known as Diviner's sage, or Sally D on the street. "Never heard of it," says Staff Sgt. Dan Woods, head of the Windsor police drug unit. "It's been showing up in the southern U.S.? Let it stay down there." An officer with the Detroit police narcotics squad who answered a call from The Star also never heard of the hallucinogenic herb. Det. Brett Mailloux, commander of the OPP's Essex County drug unit, said some of his officers are aware of the drug, but had never come in contact with it on the beat. But the RCMP has been in contact with the DEA about the plant, says RCMP Staff Sgt. Paul Marsh. "We've received communications from American officials about salvia," Marsh said. "We're aware of isolated cases of people using the substance in Canada." Cpl. Michele Paradis, communications officer with the RCMP, said since it is legal to purchase and possess the herb in Canada, "there's not much we can really do about it." The only countries that have made salvia divinorum illegal are Australia and Finland. A Canadian seller of salvia divinorum over the Internet said through e-mail communications with The Star that he got involved with the plant a few years ago. "It's still not wellknown in Canada," said the seller, who calls his site Salvia North and goes by the name Mark Belyea. "In my town, Owen Sound, I've never met anyone who has ever heard of it other than people who heard about it from me." Belyea sells root plant cuttings for $15 apiece. Since the plant does not seed well, most people purchase cuttings, he wrote. But a local head shop owner says he refuses to deal with the plant because he's heard too many bad stories about its effects. "Salvia has been around for a while, but it's spooky," said the man, who did not want to be identified. "I've heard from at least three people about having really bad experiences. This is not a recreational drug and it's not going to catch on like marijuana or ecstacy." http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=1644d761-49ba-4d05-83de-aeddf8488b3d |
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