Illinois To Ban Possession, Sale Of Salvia Divinorum Herb

Chicago, IL (AHN) - Beginning January, Illinois will prohibit the sale of the herb salvia divinorum because of the plant's unique hallucinogenic properties. Illinois joins other states that have placed the herb on the Schedule I substance list, which requires the strictest levels of control.

The prohibition on salvia divinorum's sale is the result of a bill authored by state Sen. Dennis Reboletti. "We decided to move forward rather than waiting for someone to be killed because of it," Reboletti said.

Until December 31, the herb is still legally allowed to be sold in tobacco shops, head shops and gas stations. But starting in 2008, possession or sale of salvia divinorum will become a felony, and people caught with the drug will be punished just as severely as people caught with heroin or LSD.

The plant was initially used by Mazatec Indians in the Oaxaca region of Mexico. Over the last 3 to 4 decades, it has spread to the U.S. and other countries, often vended over the counter or online as leaves or liquid extract.

Chewing or smoking salvia divinorum's leaves produces different effects. High doses may produce hallucinations and other sensory distortions. But the effect lasts only 20 minutes, much shorter than the high produced by synthetic psychedelic drugs like LSD.

The ban may generate controversy since the plant apparently has medicinal uses. Crystal Basler, owner of The Country Goddess, a religious supplies store in Carbondale, said, "Some people describe (the effect) as they get very relaxed, kind of like taking an anti-stress pill... The leaf is very, very mild. There's no reason to ever make the leaf illegal. A lot of women buy it for PMS depression."

Prior to the publicity generated by the ban, most of the buyers of the herb were middle-age professionals, than thrill-seeking adolescents. Basler pushed for regulation of salvia divinorum's sale, than an outright ban.