LEAF LURES SCIENTISTS, LEGISLATORS AND TEENS

State legislators are rushing to ban or control a hallucinogenic leaf
popular among teenagers, but also fascinating to biochemists.

Known variously as "Magic Mint," "Sally D" and salvia divinorum, the
sage-like plant has caught on over the past decade, thanks to the
potent visions it gives as well as its legal status in many states.
It can be bought over a host of Web sites. The reason it passes
through federal drug laws is also the reason it has become
interesting to biochemists, reports GQ's Christopher Ketcham.

LSD and "magic" mushrooms are controlled under a blanket federal ban
on any hallucinogen that has an effect on serotonin -- a hormone in
the brain. Salvia divinorum, alone among hallucinogens, doesn't.
Scientists hadn't known precisely how salvia divinorum had its effect
until 2002, when it was discovered it works by mimicking a chemical
in the body called dynorphin, which means salvia divinorum might be
used to "modulate everything from pain response to tissue healing to
appetite and mood."

Recent research has suggested dynorphin plays a role in the onset of
schizophrenia and dementia. High levels of dynorphins have also been
shown to counteract cocaine addiction.

"Pharmaceutical companies have long been interested in substances
that mimic or block the actions of dynorphin," says Dr. Bruce Cohen,
who is studying the properties of the leaf's active chemical, known
as salvinorin A. Promisingly, salvinorin A acts on only one kind of
receptor in the brain, whereas most drugs of its kind tend to act on
several receptors, leading to side effects. Mexico's Mazatecs have
long used the leaf in religious ceremonies but also use it to treat
stomach ailments and rheumatism.

However, the drug's popularity among teenagers and a salvia-related
stabbing in 2006 have led to an accelerating drive in many states to
ban or control it. Delaware legislators made the drug illegal
following the death of teenager Brett Chidester last year. Louisiana
was the first state to criminalize the drug's use.

Security

Sensitive Military Equipment Slips Through the Cracks

Businessweek -- June 11

The military has been selling sensitive equipment to middle men
acting on behalf of countries like China, Syria and Iran, according
to government investigators.

Investigators for the Defense Department and the Department of
Homeland Security tell BusinessWeek's Keith Epstein of dozens of
recent cases of restricted equipment slipping through the governments
system for selling surplus equipment, blaming "carelessness,
antiquated record-keeping, and failures to confirm the identities and
intentions of buyers."

Investigators found in March that a Navy installation had improperly
sold three F-14 planes to a scrap dealer. In 2005, Defense Department
investigation found a trove of F-14 components in a warehouse of
businessmen trying to sell them to America's adversaries. (Iran's
entire air force fleet is made up of F-14s.) The components had
actually been recovered in a previous investigation into illegal
trade of military items. Having been returned to the Pentagon, they
had apparently leaked to the black market once again.

Reza Tabib, found guilty in May of trying to supply F-14 plane parts
to Iran, had bought the parts from the Web site govliquidation.com.
It is run by Government Liquidation which, along with another unit of
Liquidity Services Inc., has an exclusive contract to sell military
equipment the Defense Department doesn't want.

An undercover team from the Government Accountability Office reported
last July that they had made purchases that shouldn't have been
possible. Government Liquidation says it has since improved its
inventory-tracking system.