Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Many states move to ban salvia

|
|
 
  
Published: March. 5, 2008 at 3:18 PM

WASHINGTON, March 5 (UPI) -- Many U.S. states have banned or are considering bans on salvia, a type of mint often used for ground cover and also taken for its hallucinogenic effects.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is considering classifying salvia as a Schedule I narcotic, Stateline.org reported Wednesday. That would put it in the same category as heroin, cocaine and marijuana.

Missouri, Delaware, North Dakota and Illinois classified salvia as a Schedule I drug in 2005. A Virginia ban has passed the state legislature and is awaiting the governor's signature.

Salvia divinorum, grown mostly in the area around Oaxaca, Mexico, has been used for centuries in religious rituals by native shamans. In recent years, it has become popular with young people elsewhere.

"I think the Internet has actually driven this," said Virginia State Del. John O'Bannon, a Republican who sponsored that state's law. "I think the Internet is one of the reasons why it's actually spread out of the local indigenous areas in Mexico."

Topics: The Local
Recommended Stories
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 25
Meryl Streep and Colin Firth attend the "BAFTA" ceremony in London
View Caption
fark
Portland aiming to reduce transit violence with a little bit of the lovely lovely Ludwig Van
Thou shalt not worketh on the Sabbath, unless you receiveth twice and one half pieces of silver....
Bill that would have protected Iowa cities against lawsuits over sledding accidents on city property...
Susan G. Kommen founder Nancy Brinker billed the foundation $133,507 in expenses while she was working...
Shes 100 years old today and still hotter than hell Dumber than a sack of wet rocks though
A local flight company in Cincinnati offers couples the chance to have sex in the back of their...