Illinois to ban species of sage

CHICAGO, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Illinois pre-empts the U.S. federal government on Jan. 1, adding a species of sage to its list of Schedule I narcotics, the strictest level of control.

A bill drafted by state Rep. Dennis Reboletti, an Elmhurst Republican, classifies salvia divinorum as a Schedule I substance, making possession a felony and putting it on a par with heroin and LSD. Salvia divinorum has natural hallucinogenic qualities that persist for roughly 20 minutes.

Reboletti said the legislation is meant to protect potential users from the plant's psychedelic effects, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

"It's very likely that you could hurt yourself or hurt others while in

this drug-induced state," Reboletti said.

Advocates of the plant say its potential spiritual and medicinal use override the need to reschedule the plant.

Rick Doblin with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a non-profit organization examining the potential benefits of psychedelic chemicals, said the plant's unique biochemical qualities make it a potential candidate to treat depression.