CITY POLITICIAN SEEKS TO SNUFF OUT FAD

Pushes Ban On Hallucinogenic Herb

City Councilor Rob Consalvo is calling on Boston to outlaw salvia
divinorum, a powerfully hallucinogenic herb sold over the counter
that is gaining popularity among teens.

Known on the street as Sally-D, "sage of the seers," and "magic
mint," salvia is a hallucinogen that is inexpensive and easy to buy.

Consalvo, of Hyde Park, is worried that without quick action, the
latest doping fad will ravage Boston neighborhoods.

"I'm scared by this," Consalvo said. "I can see this being the new
meth if we don't get our arms around it."

Consalvo, outraged that the Legislature failed to pass a bill making
salvia illegal statewide last year, filed legislation this week in
the City Council that would make selling or possessing salvia in
Boston a crime punishable with a $300 fine.

Possession of an ounce or less of marijuana in Massachusetts
currently carries a $100 civil penalty.

Salvia can be smoked or chewed to get a high. Its popularity is
documented by more than 7,000 YouTube.com videos, many showing young
adults laughing, giggling and tripping over each other - even
gardening - as they experience the intense but short high.

But it has a dark side. Salvia is blamed in the 2007 suicide of a
Delaware teen, 16-year-old Brett Chidester. Delaware outlawed salvia
after Chidester's death.

"There's no reason for kids to use this product," said Sharon Levy,
medical director of substance abuse at Children's Hospital. "It's a
dangerous substance for kids to experiment with."

Levy said as much as 20 percent of the 250 teens who passed through
her clinic last year said they tried salvia.

Levy also wants to see the herbal remedy made illegal because, she
explained, like all hallucinogens, it can be abused and lead to
dependence. Started young, teenagers using salvia can set themselves
up for a lifetime of mental illness, Levy warned.

Elaine Driscoll, a Boston Police Department spokeswoman, said the Hub
"has not experienced widespread usage of this substance, however, it
is always a good idea to get in front of an issue before it becomes
a problem."