SALVIA GROWING DRUG TREND

Legalized Hallucinogenic Drug, Available Legally For Purchase Over The
Internet To Any Ohio Residents

Soon after he ingested Salvia, "the world became a dark and oppressive
place," said Gary, an Ohio State student, who asked that his last name
not be used.

"Things had energy and personality," Gary said. "I don't recommend it
to people. It's not a party drug at all. The number of people who
would get a positive experience out of it is relatively low."

Salvia comes from the leaves of a Mexican plant and can produce
hallucinogenic effects. It is currently legal in Ohio. However Salvia
is becoming more popular and could become illegal in the future.

Also known as "ska Maria Pastora" or "Shepherdess's Herb," Salvia
divinorum is a plant that can reach six feet tall and has barbed, dark
green leaves and blue or white flowers. The plant belongs to the genus
Salvia, better known as sage. Although sage can be found in grocery
stores and gardens, Salvia is a specific species indigenous to Oaxaca,
Mexico. There, shamans of the Mazatec Indian tribe use Salvia to aid
in ritual trances that allow them to discover ways to cure their patients.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration Newark Division,
"There has been a recent interest among young adults and adolescents
to rediscover ethnobotanical plants that can induce changes in
perception, hallucinations or other psychologically induced changes.
Since Salvia divinorum, or any of its active ingredients are not
specifically listed in the Controlled Substances Act, some online
botanical companies and drug promotional sites have advertised Salvia
as a legal alternative to other plant hallucinogens like mescaline."

Currently the U.S. federal government does not regulate the growth,
distribution or possession of Salvia. Many states have passed
legislation to add Salvia to the list of controlled substances
including Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Delaware and
Maine. However, Ohio has no such legislation. House Bill 215 was
introduced in May 2007, but has not yet passed.

There are many other reasons for the renewed interest.

Because of its chemical structure, Salvia does not give a positive
reaction on urine tests for opiates or other alkaloid drugs, according
to salvia.net. Also, it activates the vision-producing receptors of
the brain without activating the addiction-producing receptors.

Availability is also an influence in the popularity of
Salvia.

Salvia is sold in head shops and online. Through an online retailer
such as gnc.com, a one-fluid-ounce bottle of the liquid form costs
about $12.

"I actually did it for the first time in the Dream Merchant head shop
on 13th Avenue and High Street with the owner of the store," said Kyle
Nowak, 23, an OSU graduate. "He packed a little bowl piece and we each
took maybe four or five hits."

On its Web site, Dream Merchant advertises Salvia extract.

Nowak is not a frequent drug user, but said he was enticed to try
Salvia because it is less expensive than marijuana.

The duration of a Salvia trip varies depending on many factors such as
body weight, sensitivity, dose taken and method of ingestion. Salvia's
side effects can include loss of physical coordination, alterations in
vision and perception and uncontrollable laughter. The effects are
also known to wear off quickly.

"It was kind of harsh, not smooth by any means. I wouldn't try it
again," Nowak said.

Gary did not seem enthusiastic about his experiences with Salvia
either.

"It never did much and when it did, it was generally creepy," he said.