HALLUCINOGENIC HERB BEING ABUSED BY YOUNG PEOPLE -
HEALTH CANADA

Salvia Divinorum Can't Be Declared Illegal Without More Data

OTTAWA - A freely available herb that packs a powerful psychedelic
punch has some federal health officials recommending strict controls.

Department documents obtained by The Canadian Press under Access to
Information law say salvia is being used by adolescents and young
adults for its hallucinogenic properties.

A December 2005 report by the marketed health products directorate, an
arm of Health Canada, recommends that salvia divinorum be placed under
the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Department spokesman Jason Bouzanis said salvia divinorum has been
known to cause hallucinations, out-of-body experiences,
unconsciousness and short-term memory loss.

But that's not enough to declare it illegal.

"We can't make any recommendations to place salvia under the
Controlled Drug and Substances Act schedules until we have sufficient
scientific and empirical data that concludes it has the potential for
misuse and abuse," Bouzanis said.

Salvia divinorum is difficult to grow outside of its native habitat in
southern Mexico, but the plant's leaves and extracts of salvia's
active ingredient in pill form are sold in Canada.

Australia is one of few countries that has made it illegal to possess,
distribute and consume salvia, also known as Sally D, the diviner's
sage or the sage of seers. It is a species of sage, which belongs to
the mint family, and is most commonly found in Mexico, where
indigenous Mazatec shamans have used it for centuries for spiritual
journeys.

Salvia leaves are most commonly dried and smoked. Extracts of
salvinorin-A, salvia's active ingredient, are available in tablet
form. Pill prices can range anywhere from $30 to $80 in Canada
depending on the potency desired. Most online salvia sellers advertise
it as a natural health product.

An October 2006 report by the natural health products directorate of
Health Canada highlights four cases of adverse reactions to salvia.
One case involves a 16-year-old Canadian boy who reportedly became
incoherent, suicidal and threatened to kill police officers after
taking a single tablet in March 2005.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration lists salvia as a "drug of
concern," but it has not been banned by the U.S. federal government.

Missouri and Louisiana have criminalized the herb and there are
proposals to make it illegal in Alaska, Illinois, Oregon and Wyoming.

But for one salvia user, the concerns are unnecessary. "Salvia is so
intense, most people only try it once or twice," said Ryan (Big P)
Poelzer, who works at the Urban Shaman, a popular botanical store in
downtown Vancouver.

Poelzer, 20, says the store sells at least fifty pills every week,
mainly to people between the ages of 19 and 25. He describes his
experiences using salvia as "mind blowing" and "out of this world."

"You don't think you're in this world and you don't think you're
coming back. ... It's definitely the most powerful psychedelic out
there."