PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCES ENHANCE ONE'S LIFE

I have a few comments about the recent article entitled "Salvia
Questioned." I am thankful that The Oracle decided to cover this
important issue, and I hope that more space is devoted to covering
psychedelic issues in our community.

First, the comparison of Salvia Divinorum to LSD, which is common in
mainstream media coverage of the issue, is really an exercise in
misinformation, as is obvious from reading sources such as the
Journal of Ethnopharmacology or browsing the thousands of experience
reports at erowid.org. It is notable that the effects of smoked
salvia material, whether the leaves or the extract, last only a few
minutes, while LSD lasts several hours.

Also, the available literature strongly suggests that the method of
action of Salvinorin-A (salvia's main active compound) is in its
affinity as a kappa-opioid agonist, an action completely unrelated to
LSD, which is an indole and a 5-HT2A (Serotonin / Tryptamine) agonist.

Having used salvia divinorum six times over the past four years, I
can say that the experience can be quite astounding and terrifying.
It is, in many ways, unspeakable. It is quite different from
cannabis, LSD, psilocybin or any other drug I know of. Although I
would not recommend Salvia Divinorum as a first psychedelic
experience, I did have one particularly intense experience about
three years ago that changed my views about God and existence quite
significantly and has led to several lasting, positive changes in my lifestyle.

Contemplating these thoughts has in turn also led to several other
profound experiences, some also drug related, most not.

While the psychedelic studies literature is only beginning to catch
up with the use of salvia in the English-speaking world, there are a
few notable books on the material and its experience, including D.M.
Turner's "Salvinorin: The Psychedelic Essence of Salvia Divinorum."

Prohibiting the possession of salvia or the sale of it to adults
would be a mistake.

It would certainly not achieve any goal of making it less popular or
less available to teens.

Have we not learned from the dismal failure of prohibition of other drugs?

Consider that MDMA (sometimes called "ecstasy") was virtually
unknown, outside of its use in psychotherapy, when it was banned.

Now look at it!

The Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics
(www.cognitiveliberty.org) has been leading the way on ensuring that
salvia divinorum is not relegated to the illicit market.

To conclude on a deeper note: adults in a free society have a
fundamental and inalienable right to explore states of spiritual and
religious significance. The prohibition of psychedelic materials is a
very real and significant abridgment of this right - there may well
be no other policy which negatively impacts so many people's
spiritual practice in such an intimate way. Salvia Divinorum, when
used properly, has the potential to open a doorway to states of mind
which should be out-of-bounds for government interference, and in my
opinion this plant deserves to be considered amongst the study-worthy
psychedelic materials.