LAWMAKERS DON'T TOUCH HALLUCINOGENIC HERB

Lawmakers have set aside a proposed ban on the hallucinogenic herb
salvia divinorum.

Paul Ray, R-Clinton, who proposed listing the plant as a schedule 1
controlled substance, said federal regulators alerted him that they
were close to reaching their own classification for salvia divinorum.
The herb presently is unregulated under federal law. For at least
five years, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has said it is
researching the herb's effects and addictiveness, media reports say.

A spokeswoman on Wednesday said there is no clear schedule for when
the DEA will conclude its examination and determine whether salvia
divinorum should be regulated.