SALVIA CONCERNS 'BALDERDASH'

Prohibition: Banning drugs gives gangsters another trade item.

Re: Minty herb sparks concerns, Observer, Feb. 4

"They think it's a fun time but it's a very dangerous drug. What are the
long-term effects of Salvia?"

Salvia is non-toxic, non-addictive, and nowhere near enough fun to be
habit forming. It is yet to kill anyone, yet junk food kills many times
more Canadians every year than all illegal drugs combined.

Jones points to the risks that can result from being incapacitated for 30
minutes by a drug such as salvia. "There are STDs (sexually transmitted
diseases), AIDS, just from being victimized as a young man or woman."

More anti-drug fear-mongering propaganda designed to scare the public into
believing that the only way to protect their children from "danger" (or
"fun") is to pass a new prohibition. What utter balderdash.

There is a misconception in our society that suggests that only drug
abstinence is to be encouraged and admired. Telling kids to "never" use
certain drugs is like telling them to never see a certain genre of movie,
never go to an amusement park or exotic country, or never do anything at
all that may be both risky and fun. It teaches them to be afraid of new
things, instead of curious, and as history has shown, fortune favours the
adventurous. Sensible, moderate, well-informed drug use is no more
harmful, dangerous or immoral than any one of dozens of other activities
humans participate in every day. And if you think drugs have nothing good
to offer society, then throw away every CD you own.

Banning Salvia will likely be about as successful as the ban on marijuana:
it will make Salvia more popular, potent, widely available, and
contaminated than when it was legal. So yes, by all means - ban Salvia,
and give gangsters another commodity to trade for your kids' allowance.

Russell Barth, federally licensed medical marijuana user, Patients Against
Ignorance and Discrimination on Cannabis