ALTERED STATES

Thanks for a bit of skeptical perspective about the recent
Knuckleheads/Epstein/salvia scuffle (Wanna New Drug? 1/3/03).

Sounds as if Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Reed Epstein is eager to
create a bit of drug war furor over the latest leaf the "stoners" are
trying. Having tried smoking salvia divinorum leaves myself, I'm in the
camp that experiences few and mild effects from the drug -- but all
arguments over potency aside, the point is that citizens ought to have the
right to alter their thinking with a substanceand suffer punishment only if
their behavior harms themselves, property or others.

Salvia doesn't seem to do any of those, at least so far.

Heidi Lypps

Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics www.cognitiveliberty.org

Davis, Calif.