SALVI-ATING

Re: "Herb's potent psychedelic hit raises alarm," April 8.

Salvia dinorum is not a common garden plant. Perhaps you are confusing
it with garden sage (salvia officinalis).

Salvia is mainly used by responsible adults who are well aware of its
effects. Stores will not sell it to minors. You call salvia a
hallucinogen, but its mechanism of action is completely different than
that of illegal hallucinogens such as LSD.

Salvia has no stimulant or depressant effects and is physically
non-toxic. No one has ever died from ingesting this plant. It has no
potential for abuse. The active ingredient, Salvinorin A, has shown
potential as an anti-depressant and as a treatment for addiction to
other drugs.

Salvia is considered a spiritual plant by most who use it. They are
interested in exploring their own consciousness, and it is not Health
Canada's place to deny them their sacrament.

The 16-year-old boy in the article had pre-existing psychological
disorders and had not used salvia for months when he became suicidal.
To blame this incident on salvia shows great ignorance. Please visit
the online library http://www.erowid.org for accurate and reliable
information on this plant.

Patrick Kooyman,

Calgary