FEDS TO STRIKE AGAINST SALVIA

WINNIPEG -- The federal Conservatives are taking a pre-emptive strike
against an herbal hallucinogen that garnered plenty of media attention
thanks to teen pop-star Miley Cyrus.

Salvia divinorum, a naturally occurring plant of the sage family which
grows in southern Mexico, is most commonly ingested by smoking the
leaves.

Users of salvia commonly experience a short-lasting high that can
include hallucinations, uncontrollable laughter, lack of co-ordination
and even loss of consciousness.

The Tories are proposing to add salvia divinorum to Schedule 3 of the
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), a move that would take up
to two years, MP Shelley Glover said Monday.

Schedule 3 includes other psychedelic drugs like psilocybin (magic
mushrooms) and mescaline, as well as some barbiturates and
amphetamines and GHB.

Violators face a maximum of three years in prison. Marijuana and its
derivatives are Schedule 2 drugs, while Schedule 1 includes cocaine,
heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs.

Late last year, Cyrus was forced to apologize to fans after she was
shown in a video on YouTube taking a bong hit of salvia before
giggling uncontrollably and talking nonsensically.

Glover said the move to criminalize salvia had nothing to do with
Cyrus.

"It wasn't because of Hollywood at all," Glover said at a news
conference.

"We've been looking at this well before that and waiting for the
research which came back late in 2010 and now we're moving forward."

Health Canada officials said earlier this month that uncertainty
remains about the health risks of salvia.

But due to its psychoactive effects, Health Canada has said salvia
poses a risk to users and is recommending interdiction.

"Teens face enough pressure already," Glover said. "With heavily
covered stories of young people in Hollywood using salvia to get high,
we have a responsibility to protect our youth."

The owner of My Two Sons, a Winnipeg hydroponics store, owner Jim, who
did not want his last name used, briefly sold salvia several years ago
but now supports banning it.

"It's a complete loss of control," said. "How could that not be a
banned substance?"

Jim says salvia remains available for purchase in at least four other
Manitoba shops, but is restricted to those over 18 years of age.