The legislature moved one step closer today to banning Salvia Divinorum, a legal hallucinogenic herb that studies show is gaining popularity.
A House committee unanimously approved a bill to ban the plant, which comes from Mexico and also is used in landscaping and decoration.
"It is cheap, it is easy to get, and in many states, like North Carolina, it is completely legal," said Sen. Bill Purcell, a Laurinburg Democrat and the bill's sponsor.
The bill would make it unlawful to manufacture, sell, deliver or possess the herb for reasons other than decoration. The first offense would punished by a minimum $25 fine, with tougher sanctions for repeat offenders.
"I'm not interested in putting people in jail over this," Purcell said.
The Senate voted in May to ban the substance. The bill must be approved by one more committee before it reaches the House floor. At least 14 other states have regulated the plant.
Comments
Re: Salvia ban nearing passage
June 30, 2009 - 6:18pm — hawk8414You'd better get your salvia while you can. These folks mean business! They are going to make as much money from the taxpayers as they can.Salvia has been around for as long as marijuana.I wonder how many of the elitists smoke salvia and have their own suppliers fly it in from all over for them?
This is nothing.In Dec of 2009 vitamins will become illegal under the Codex Alimarus. You will need a prescription to get vitamins for yourself and your children. Google it and see for yourself. They are going to tax you and your kids and your grandchildren to death. Google it and find out.
Re: Salvia ban nearing passage
June 26, 2009 - 9:24am — rtoddmitchellIf it feels good, ban it.
Re: Salvia ban nearing passage
June 24, 2009 - 8:02am — banker27520What a complete waste of taxpayers' money!!! Geez...
Re: Salvia ban nearing passage
June 23, 2009 - 10:40pm — needalMy pediatrician once told me that too much nutmeg is hallucinogenic - wonder why that isn't a scheduled spice now? I wish the Legislature would fix the budget instead of veering off course with this drivel.
Re: Salvia ban nearing passage
June 23, 2009 - 9:26pm — time4changeThis is pitiful. There are numerous plants typically grown as landscape plants that will alter your mood. Nicotine alters your mood. I think it is stupid to classify a naturally occurring plant illegal. GOD made it. The same legislation should apply to tobacco.
Re: Salvia ban nearing passage
June 23, 2009 - 4:18pm — kellydeanPathetic. When you look at the state of the government in North Carolina, we, as taxpayers, should be angered and insulted at the time and money spent on this legislation. This is important? To whom? Have there been any deaths caused by salvia in NC? Any injuries? ANYTHING to compare to alcohol/drugs? NO!!! Some legislator is simply trying to get his or her 15 minutes of fame, never mind how stupid 99% of their constituents think they are for wasting their hard-earned tax dollars on useless and senseless legislation. Shame.
Re: Salvia ban nearing passage
June 23, 2009 - 3:15pm — DotCommonsWikipedia reports: "the effects of smoked Salvia typically last for only a few minutes. The most commonly reported after-effects include an increased feeling of insight, an improved mood, a sense of calmness, and an increased sense of connection with nature—though, much less often, it may also cause dysphoria (unpleasant or uncomfortable mood)"
Thanks goodness our good legislators are protecting us from an increased feeling of insight!. Not to mention the fine upstanding pharmaceutical industry that kills 1,000s of people a day. Let's all go get drunk in honor all the defenders of this great law!
Re: Salvia ban nearing passage
June 23, 2009 - 2:01pm — fireUncleScamStinkin' clueless, nanny state, control freak legislators can't help but sticking their noses into everything.
The only thing this law will do is tempt kids to try it. They obviously had little or no interest in it before.
What's next? Will we have to register our purchases?
June 23, 2009 - 1:11pm — Penny_WiseI can just see it now - registering our purchases like we do for pseudophedrine ....
Re: Salvia ban nearing passage
June 23, 2009 - 12:09pm — mcacchionewhat a waste of time & tax $$$.
Re: Salvia ban nearing passage
June 23, 2009 - 11:54am — TheLibertineFix the economy! Find ways to cut fat out of our system! Stop wasting my taxpayer dollars and time on non-essential and non-value add activities!
Banning a plant...for God's sake...this is why the end of the world must be near...the lunatics are running the asylum!
Re: Salvia ban nearing passage
June 23, 2009 - 11:34am — jimmylegsOur legislators fiddle with this foolishness while the state burns with unprecedented budgetary problems. I, for one, don't want any of my tax dollars wasted to discuss/debate such rubbish.
Re: Salvia ban nearing passage
June 23, 2009 - 10:50am — baconmWhat a complete waste of time. The potential for abuse of this plant is almost nil. When the budget is down, and you can't be bothered to make tough decisions, prop up your political fortunes by making a meaningless drug illegal!