CITY SENDS LETTERS TO STORES ASKING TO PULL SALVIA FROM SHELVES

Between 15 and 20 convenience store operators in Quinte West will be
handed letters from the city this week requesting they voluntarily
pull the mood enhancing drug salvia from shelves.

Salvia is sold legally despite attempts by community groups and
municipalities to have the substance banned by provincial and federal
governments.

Letters will be hand delivered by volunteers with Quinte West
Community Policing.

Trent Community Corrections Chairman George Fraser told council in
June he realizes the city has no legal jurisdiction over Salvia divinorum.

But he added politicians can send a strong message to the provincial
and federal governments by passing a anti-salvia bylaw.

"At the very least Quinte West is taking a positive step forward by
delivering the letter," said Fraser.

"Hopefully this will pressure local store operators, and the
provincial and federal government."

Quinte West Mayor John Williams told The Trentonian Monday while the
city can't force store owners to remove Salvia, the city is doing its
part to help raise awareness of the dangers the drug poses.

"We're not in a position to pass a bylaw. It would be thrown out in
the courts," said Williams.

The drug is being sold legally in local convenience stores, some
located near schools.

"It's immoral to sell this stuff so close to schools," said Fraser at
the June city council meeting.

While city council didn't pass a bylaw, they did support a resolution
by Port Colborne to pressure the provincial and federal governments
into banning the substance.

Banning the substance would have to be done under the Federal Health
Act.

Fraser said Quinte-area parents should be aware of the
legally-available mood enhancing drug.

Fraser says Salvia divinorum, also known as Diviner's Sage, is
available for as little as $3.99, and as much as $8.99 - the price
varies according to potency - from local convenience stores.

Fraser says some of the young people Community Corrections works with
have brought the legal hallucinogenic product to their attention.

Trent Community Corrections works with "youth at risk" helping them to
be a "better citizen," Fraser says.

Salvia packaging states the product is "for incense use only," and
includes a warning that "Salvia Divinorum is a very powerful and
effective plant substance and must be used responsibly." The "common
sense guidelines" recommend having a sober sitter present, not to use
it in public or on a balcony, and never to use it near dangerous
objects such as guns or knives.

Australia is the first country to ban Salvia, and a few American
states have anti-Salvia laws.

The substance, also known as Magic Mint, Sally D, Sage of the Seers,
or simply Salvia is a member of the sage family; a powerful
psychoactive plant used by shamans in the Oaxaca Mexico area for
healing during spirit journeys.

It's considered, by weight alone, to be among the most potent
naturally-occurring psychoactive compound according to the on-line
encyclopedia, Wikipedia.