'LEGAL POT' FOR SALE IN WILKES, LAW OFFICERS CONCERNED

A legal herb, which is being smoked for effects similar to marijuana, is
being sold in Wilkes. And that has some law enforcement officers concerned.
The herb, salvia divinorum, in its dried form, looks somewhat like
marijuana. The high from smoking the dried plant, some say, is more potent
than that caused by pot. "I've talked to someone who has smoked it and they
said it was a lot like marijuana," said North Wilkesboro Police Patrol
Officer Glenn Scott. Scott added that the herb is a "powerful hallucinogen"
and that high doses can result in frightening "bad trips," loss of memory
and flashbacks. With the high from use of the plant reported to be equal or
greater than that from marijuana, North Wilkesboro Police Lt. Tim Cheek and
Scott say the herb should be illegal. "There's no medicinal purpose for it
whatsoever," Cheek said, adding that salvia use poses a potential health
hazard for users. He added that little scientific research has been done on
the herb and that it's unclear what affect it could have on its user.
Another concern to Cheek and Scott is the potential for automobile
accidents involving drivers who use the herb and get behind the wheel. Both
say smoking salvia would impair a person's ability to drive.

"But," Cheek said, "if somebody smokes a couple of pipes of this stuff,
gets numb and gets out on the road, there's nothing anybody can do about
it. We can't charge them with DWI (driving while impaired) because there's
no test for it." Cheek said he first heard of salvia this past winter. "A
woman, who was on probation, called and asked if it was legal. I told her I
hadn't ever heard of it," Cheek said. "She said she was smoking it and was
numb from head to toe." He added that he and other officers have
"field-tested" the drug and that none of the chemicals associated with a
marijuana high was found. "The tests have all come back negative," Cheek
said. Officials with the Wilkes County Sheriff's Department, when contacted
by The Record on Monday evening, said they had not heard of the herb or
that it was being sold in the county. Wilkesboro Police Chief Gary Parsons
also said that he wasn't familiar with the herb, when contacted Tuesday.
The most widespread sale of salvia is through internet orders, Cheek said.
But, he added, at least one local business has been selling the herb. The
Record purchased a small bag of salvia at a Main Street Wilkesboro novelty
store for $5 late Monday afternoon. The herb was displayed in a glass case
near the rear portion of the store. A woman working at the store, which
sells items including smoking devices, CDs and incense, said salvia has
been sold there for about a year. "We started (selling it) when people
started asking for it," she said. The woman added that different customers
have made various comments about the affects of salvia.

Management at the business, when contacted by The Record on Tuesday, said
they planned to discontinue to the sale of the herb, but declined further
comment. According to information on the internet, the herb is not a
marijuana substitute. The literature also suggests that those who smoke or
ingest salvia should not attempt to drive afterwards. The herb, though a
native of Mexico, is commonly grown in California and Hawaii, Scott said.
Both Cheek and Scott believe salvia may be quickly become a new fad among
those looking for substances which cause psychological affects. It's much
cheaper than pot, Cheek said, adding that an ounce of salvia sales for
about $20 compared to about $100 for an ounce of marijuana. "I think once
the word gets out about this stuff, it will really cut into marijuana
sales," Scott said.