North Carolina's drug schedules generally mimic the federal rules.

However, there are some differences.

The federal government has five classifications, ranging from heroin and LSD in Schedule I to over-the-counter cough syrup in Schedule V. North Carolina has an additional class, Schedule VI, which includes marijuana and some prescription drugs.

The use and effects of the drug are supposed to determine which schedule it goes into.

At the federal level, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration determine which substances are in the different schedules.

In North Carolina, the make-up of each schedule is written into state law or determined by the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, whose members are appointed.

Only a handful of drugs have been added administratively, however. (See Schedules I, II, III, IV, V and VI.) Most are listed in state law. (See Schedules I, II, III, IV, V and VI.)

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated cocaine's classification. It is a Schedule II drug.

Previously: Bill would add Salvia divinorum to Schedule I.

After the jump, a list of the schedules.

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Salvia has been tried by a significant number of college students.

According to a 2007 study published in the scientific journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 4.4 percent of 1,516 college students surveyed in the Southwest had used Salvia divinorum at least once in the previous year.

That was comparable to the number of students who reported using ecstasy (5 percent) and cocaine (7.1 percent), but more than heroin (less than 1 percent) and methamphetamine (1.2 percent). Nearly 35 percent reported using marijuana.

Those most likely to have tried it were students most at risk for drug use, including "whites, males, fraternity members, (and) heavy episodic drinkers," the study found. More than 10 percent of drug users surveyed had tried the herb.

The article also says that there have been no large-scale studies of the use of Salvia, which is also known as Magic Mint, Sally D and Diviners Sage.

It also notes that the herb is still legal in the state where the study took place.

The study did not address whether students used the herb or other drugs more than once in the previous year.

Previously: Bill would outlaw Salvia use; professor says ban would hurt research.

A bill would ban a hallucinogenic plant native to Mexico.

The legislation filed by Democratic Sen. Bill Purcell of Laurinburg today would add Salvia divinorum to the list of Schedule I drugs, the toughest standard in North Carolina.

Under state law, those drugs must have "a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use" or a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. The list currently includes heroin, LSD and barbiturates, among other hard drugs.

At least six states, including Ohio and California, currently ban Salvia divinorum. Sometimes known as "Sally D" or as "diviner's sage," it is a psychedelic member of the mint family which has been used for centuries in Mexico for healing and divination.

The herb is cheap and does not show up in most drug tests.

Purcell is a retired pediatrician.

Update: Purcell said he became concerned after hearing about people using the herb who became violent or suicidal. He said it appears to be more commonly used in the western part of the state.

"Methamphetamine got out of control before we did anything about that," he said. "I'm hoping we can do something sooner this time."