LEAVE 'MINT' ALONE

To the editor:

Re: Petition to ban 'magic mint' in July 11 North Star.

Before Parry Sound's drug crusaders wheel out the usual hysterical
lies in their attempts to outlaw salvia divinorum, it is worthwhile to
notice that no serious problems have been associated with salvia
divinorum to date.

There are no deaths, no desperate addictions and no robberies,
assaults or murders connected to salvia divinorum.

Of course, prohibitionists who advocate a salvia ban need no evidence
of risk or harm to spew out dire warnings. If it is a drug and some
people like it, it must be dangerous. Nevermind that alcohol and
tobacco kill hundreds of thousands every year while salvia has yet to
record a single fatality. The drug warriors still want a total ban.

The moral morons advocating prohibition never stop to consider that
throwing someone in prison has a far more detrimental effect than a
lifetime of salvia divinorum use.

RALPH GIVENS

Daly City, California