California’s Balanced Approach to Salvia Divinorum
Salvia divinorum has been banned in a few countries as well as some states in the U.S.. I am against an outright ban against the plant, and I wrote a post on my position on the war on salvia. However, while I see more harm than good in the federal government or any state making it a Schedule I substance, I do support the idea of restricting its use in the same way that alcohol and cigarettes are restricted. This is not a party drug, and using it for entertainment purposes is wasteful at best and potentially dangerous at worst. Young minds that are still developing do not need to be exposed to substances that alter how the mind works.
So I was pleasantly surprised when I read last week that the Assembly Committee on Public Safety passed California Assemblyman Anthony Adams’ bill A.B. 259. The bill would make it a misdemeanor to sell or distribute Salvia divinorum to persons under the age of 18.
The media has been sensationalizing this plant and exaggerating its effects for some time. As of now, six U.S. states have decided to react to this “new threat to our youth” by enacting laws making possession and use of salvia divinorum a criminal offense:
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Delaware - salvia divinorum (plant) is a Schedule I substances
Missouri - salvia divinorum (plant) and salvinorin A are Schedule I substances
Louisiana - salvia divinorum (plant) is a Schedule I substances
North Dakota - salvia divinorum (plant) is a Schedule I substances
Illinois - salvia divinorum (plant) and any compound extracted from it are Schedule I substances
Oklahoma - salvia divinorum and salvinorin A were included in the state’s definition of controlled substances.
Two states have enacted less severe laws:
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Maine - salvia divinorum (plant) and salvinorin A are regulated substances. Sale to a minor is a criminal offense, while possession by a minor is a civil offense.
Tennessee - Possession and use of salvinorin A is a Class A misdemeanor
source : SageWisdom.org
I’m pleased that California is on the way to adopting reasonable laws dealing with salvia. Originally, the bill proposed to make it a Schedule 1 substance, prompting salvia expert Daniel Siebert to write a letter opposing this bill. I don’t know if his letter had any influence, but the bill was defeated in committee and later amended to the version that recently passed committee.
You can read the bill, with all its changes from the original, here. (Requires Acrobat Reader.) And here is an analysis of the bill.
If made into law, adults in California will have the right to explore their own consciousness with the aid of this natural tool. And it will be more difficult for those most likely to abuse the plant as a party drug or for entertainment purposes - with the potential for incurring harm to themselves - to do so.
[Updated on 8/31/08] The bill has passed the California Senate and on July 22, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the bill into law, which goes into effect on January 1, 2009.
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Your position and the position of CA makes sense. Thanks for creating this awareness.
The underlying issue is control. This post reminds us that human beings can evolved to become obsessed with controlling themselves and imposing their beliefs on others. From the moment we permit our senses to open to this, we discern what mindsets to give up and why.
I definitely prefer California’s approach.
Hello, I am a new visitor of this blog.
I find it reasonable that the government didn’t forbid the trade of this plant.
On the other hand, the use of plants as a means of expanding consciousness will always require a price you don’t have to pay, if you meditate.
This is in regard to the last post: “the use of plants as a means of expanding consciousness will always require a price you don’t have to pay, if you meditate.”
Use of plants is a tool in the same way meditation, fasting, aceticism are tools. Some people know develop skills in order to know how to use these tools, while others do not. Maybe you are speaking of the $cost$ of the plant - because meditation is free? Everything has a cost - time, effort, the pain involved with prolonged sitting postures for example.
What we are dealing with is a discipline in one way or another. Plants and entheogens appear to force such discipline ON SOME PEOPLE. While others it forces the opposite - reckless anarchy. But in each case what we have is the intention of our actions, the purpose behind the intention, and the desired result, which informs the purpose. Those who know what they are doing approach it this way, with respect. This is true of meditation as well, but I think the main difference between use of plants and meditation is that plants have the ability for transformative experiences because of their ability to push us or teach us beyond our original purpose, intentions, and desired result. Perhaps meditation is as transformative at times, but it takes years of practice - which again is the cost…
Meditation is a great way to connect with your spirituality. Not only that but we can actually heal our mind and body through meditation.
The US should ban tobacco and alcohol too. Both FAR FAR more dangerous than salvia.
Anyone else sick to death of this hypocrisy?
THIS BLOG IS RIGHT. SALVIA SHOULD NOT BE SOLD TO THOSE UNDER THE AGE. tHIS SAME APPROACH SHOULD BE USED IN THE CASE OF MARIJUANA BUT SALVIA IS A NON ADDICTIVE DRUG WHOSE EFFECTS LAST ONLY A MATTER OF MINUTES. I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE OF THE “DRUG”. BUT SA I SAID IT IS NON ADDICTIVE SO ONE WILL NOT BE “HOOKED” ON THE “DRUG”
I am an old US Army Infantryman from the late 70’s. While in the military, as well as after returning from my tour. I used a wide range of hallucinogens in an attempt to find away too relieve extremely stressful situations that I had found myself in, more times than I wish too recall! (As well as some of the best and closest friends that I had the honour of knowing in my entire life thus far! and seeing many/most of those friends being killed i.e.; KIA’s/MIA’s aka; killed-in-action/missing-in-action!) And, all with good results! Meaning that I experienced both, having a good trip while on the particular hallucinogen that I had taken, an even better, more prominent feeling of “well-being”, and an almost euphoric feeling, which at first I had assumed was from me, “coming down”. Only to then learn (with some that this new-found attitude was lasting for weeks, months and in more than just a few times lasted more than an entire year. I had completely lost a “phobia” that I had for as far back as I could remember, as well as completely relieving me of my panic attacks, that my family doctor used too give me medication for e.g.: diazepam, xanax, ect., in order too try keeping my “panic-attacks” somewhat in-check/under-control. However, after doing some of these hallucinogens, I did not have to go to my doctor in order to get myself medication for my life-long panic-attack problem for a number of years after taking these hallucinogens. I had also read extensively on the different type of hallucinogens that I was planning on taking. Moreover, I always sought to educate myself as much as possible! In addition, I urge anyone that is planning to take any hallucinogen or any kind of drug for that matter too do the same. It would be deeply appreciated by me (& I am sure many others!) for a discussion to start re; how to find Salvia Divinorum enthusiasts, whom would also like to see “SD” available everywhere & especially in Australia! We pay taxes as well as to charge people extravagant amounts of money to be hospitalized & then medical industries give med./drugs for maladies that can be cured most effectively by taking something like Salvia just once or twice (depending on the individual!)? Thus making the medical industry and pharmaceutical companies hurt in the “pocket book”/wallet, because you have now been cured & the cost to the person taking the Salvia (or what ever herb/hallucinogen that was taken by the individual seeker to cure their maladies) almost nothing? & if theirs any cost it would be negligible! Thx from, jaginoz
P.S. Please start a discussion on this very important subject! I will be interested to learn as much as possible in all aspects of this topic!