LEGAL HIGH SHORT-LIVED

The federal Conservatives are taking a pre-emptive strike against an
herbal hallucinogen that has garnered plenty of recent media attention
thanks to a teen starlet.

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.

Late last year, teen pop-star Miley 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 Monday at the
news conference at the South YMCA-YWCA in St. Vital. "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 used Salvia to
get high, we have a responsibility to protect our youth."

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, Glover said. Schedule 3 includes other psychedelic drugs
like psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and mescaline as well as some
barbiturates and amphetamines and GHB. Violators can be punished by
penalty of a maximum of three years in prison.

Marijuana and its derivatives are categorized as Schedule 2 drugs,
while Schedule 1 includes cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other
drugs.

My Two Sons owner, Jim, who did not wish to have his last name
published, briefly sold Salvia several years ago but now supports
banning the substance.

"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.