Salvia divinorum is a psychedelic plant found primarily in the Mazateca region of Mexico. How it's used: Salvia is typically chewed or smoked. Traditional use: The Mazatec Indians operate salvia for healing and ritual prophecy. Modern use: Owner in the United States have reported effects ranging from relaxation and sensual pleasure to out-of-body experiences and petrifying hallucinations. How it's sold:

Salvia is marketed in various sizes, figure and containers as leaves, extracts and tinctures. Legality:

The DEA has listed salvia as a "drug of concern," and it is considered a controlled substance in several states, including Delaware, Louisiana and Missouri, and many other state of affairs are considering regulating its use. California proposal: Assembly Bill 259 would make it a misdemeanour to sell salvia to minors. Notable quote:

This is the anterior really new illicit drug in a long time."

John Mendelson, a researcher at California Pacific Medical Center SACRAMENTO -- California kids legally can tune in, turn on and freak gone these days with a potent, mind-altering drug that is readily available but targeted for a crackdown by police and lawmakers. This is the first really new illegal drug in a long time," said Dr.

John Mendelson, a researcher at California Conciliatory Medical Center who is preparing to glance at how all the more salvia users must gulp down to become intoxicated.

San Luis Obispo County sheriff's officials said they are not seeing the drug much locally however achieve believe it is extremely dangerous. About 10 years ago, detectives came across an complication involving a man who was selling salvia through the mail, nevertheless they did not remember any other cases involving sales of the drug.

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lt. Jerry Davis, who is pushing legislation to ban sales to minors, said one woman who used salvia & 8212; occasionally called "Sally D" or "magic mint" & 8212; claimed that her miniblinds suddenly began beating her.

She had a burrito on the table," he said, reporting her hallucination. It grew legs and teeth and started to attack her."

A Delaware woman, Kathy Chidester, is pushing to outlaw salvia nationwide after her 17- year-old son, Brett, dedicated suicide two years ago & 8212; a death that a medical examiner ruled stemmed, in part, from the teen's manipulate of the drug.

Chidester said her son, a straight-A student, balked at her appeals to stop smoking salvia, which he purchased from a Web site. He said, & 8216;If there was something really, really wrong with it, it would not be legal.'

Daniel Siebert, a Malibu herbalist, marker that media coverage of salvia has been unfair. It is not a party drug, does not produce a euphoric high, is not addictive, and can be used responsibly for introspection, he said.

It's kind of like a tool for gaining more advantageous understanding," said Siebert, who has used the drug various times, sells it via the Internet, and has written a user's guide that describes its effects as "divine inebriation." Siebert said users will experience varying degrees of impact, depending above on dosage and how the drug is consumed.

Salvia, whose strenuous component is "salvinorin A," is an herb in the mint family. Salvia has much to offer: Siebert maintain in his user's guide.

The manual warns that salvia should be euphemistic pre-owned individual close to adults in a "thoughtful, creative manner," and that a partner should be present if a user is fascinating doses high enough that he or she might "freak out, become confused, injure (himself), fall, or do anything that might hurt others."

Siebert said salvia's impractical effects typically resemble a dream, with users not feeling as if they are under the control of a drug. The National Institute on Drug Misuse characterizes salvia's effects as "intense but short-lived," beginning less than a minute after consumption and lasting less than 30 minutes.

From http://sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/292882.html