By Chris Morton

Feb 25, 2009 9:02 AM | Link to this

The article on Salvia Divinorum was a disgrace - for a collegiate to write such a misinformed, uneducated article is horrible and a shame. While salvia has been ABUSED by many students and kids, it is a valuable spiritual plant, and a great source of biological enigma for herbalists, ethnobotanical researchers, as well as the spiritually minded. Many have forgotten that valuable experiences do not always happen to be pleasant. Some of the most eye opening events in our lives can be the most frightening. This is why salvia in smoke shop stores where anyone can try the plant without proper preparation and respect is a travesty...... This act of prostituting salvia for cheap highs will mean salvia will likely be legislated against, and this could mean that responsible adults who wish to explore their own inner realms with salvia - will be forbidden to do so. And do not forget - in the drug war - the main people busted are SUBURBAN and URBAN KIDS!!! - YOUR CHILDREN - who, if they have even a spark of childlike willpower, will always DO what is FORBIDDEN. (and usually do so with a lack of responsibility and level af danger that would not be present if WE as ADULTS stopped LEGISLATING and tried being REAL with our kids.) Why must we condemn everyone for the mistakes of the disrespectful, youthful, and quite honestly - THE DUMB. The ABUSE and sale of the Salvia in stores to minors is what SHOULD be addressed. Education is always the answer....... right? Making a valid form of self exploration (for the few who have the self-discipline to attain such things) ILLEGAL is part of the ignorance that I thought college level education was here to combat. No real science was to be found the article, just fear, coupled with illogical guestimations. Thanks Chris Marden

By Gabe

Jan 28, 2009 8:31 PM | Link to this

As an avid gardener, and student of ethnobotany, I grow Salvia divinorum to better understand how this plant interacts with its environment. I have learned that this plant requires cool humid air to thrive, that it is naturally fungal-resistant, and that it does not produce seed. Salvia divinorum is native to the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico. It is a true-cultigen, in that is does not produce fertile seed, and it was basically invented by horticulturally advanced Mesoamericans some 3,000 to 5,000 years ago. It is like Corn, and many other food crops that have been intensively bred over generations to express highly selective genetic traits at the expense of natural reproduction. These plant species become dependent upon human cultivation for survival.

Salvia divinorum is the only known species in over 900 different species of the Genus, Saliva, that botanically produce the secondary metabolites we call "Salvinorin A and B." Salvinorin A is the primary metabolite responsible for the "hallucinogenic" effects of the leaf matter. The Salvia plant itself uses Salvinorin A as an adaptive advantage, in that many modern botanical studies conclude that Salvinorin A is both anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial, anti-viral. Not surprisingly, the Mazatec people of Oaxaca use Salvia divinorum in prominent medical and divinatory rituals , and these rituals date back to Pre-columbian times.

Salvia divinorum carries the taxonomic species name "Divinorum", not because it is hallucinogenic, but because the ethnobotanists that named the plant found it by studying the divination rites of Mazatec shaman. In the Mazatec sense, Salvia divinorum is a vehicle for healing. In this sense, it is a gift from God, which maybe why the Spanish name for Salvia divinorum is Yerba de Maria, and Yerba de la Pastora (in both meanings, the Herb of Mary, the mother of God).

As an amateur scientist, determined ethnobotanist, and devpte seeker of truth, I am deeply sickened at the thought that people in high places (like law enforcement and certain House Representatives) would promote laws that only distort the truth, undermine civil liberty, and ultimately, disregard the U.S. Constitution. Salvia divinorum is an ARTIFACT of pre-Columbian horticulture. This plant has many great potential uses, and ultimately, if some dumb kid want to get off on it, well, it's not the plant's fault... the fault resides with our own ignorance regarding such matters.

Please, just say "No" to dogma, and yes to the truth.

For any references, please so the book, "Plants of the Gods" by Dr. Richard Evans Schultes.

By Bruno Marchal

Nov 22, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this

If politicians were caring about the health of the citizens, I sincerely think they would not discourage the use of Salvia Divinorum, instead of making it illegal. Salvia Divinorum is indeed a good remedy against many physical and mental addictions. It is an anti-drug drug. It is also a very safe substance when consumed properly, which means at home quietly in the dark and silence, with an attitude of respect. Making it illegal would be an unnecessary advertising for the plant to the kids and immature people, and repression would make their life and the life of their family miserable. Salvia is not a safe substance per se, of course, because that does simply not exist. But all the massive available evidences are that salvia is much more safe than tobacco or alcohol.

By Bruno

Nov 16, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this

If politicians were caring about the health of the citizens, I sincerely think they would not discourage the use of Salvia Divinorum, instead of making it illegal. Salvia Divinorum is indeed a good remedy against many physical and mental addictions. It is an anti-drug drug. It is also a very safe substance when consumed properly, which means at home quietly in the dark and silence, with an attitude of respect. Making it illegal would be an unnecessary advertising for the plant to the kids and immature people, and repression would make their life and the life of their family miserable. Salvia is not a safe substance per se, of course, because that does simply not exist. But all the massive available evidences are that salvia is much more safe than tobacco or alcohol.

By Bruno

Nov 16, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

If politicians were caring about the health of the citizens, I sincerely think they would not discourage the use of Salvia Divinorum, instead of making it illegal. Salvia Divinorum is indeed a good remedy against many physical and mental addictions. It is an anti-drug drug. It is also a very safe substance when consumed properly, which means at home quietly in the dark and silence, with an attitude of respect. Making it illegal would be an unnecessary advertising for the plant to the kids and immature people, and repression would make their life and the life of their family miserable. Salvia is not a safe substance per se, of course, because that does simply not exist. But all the massive available evidences are that salvia is much more safe than tobacco or alcohol.

By Flak

Nov 12, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this

If they want to keep it away from kids, they should pass a law restricting its use and availability to minors. Salvia divinorum has been readily available for over 10 years, and has never been shown to be addictive or cause any long term side effects. If you value your freedom as a Texan adult to make your own choices, write your representative and urge them to oppose this legislation.

By anonymous

Nov 11, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this

Hey Jason,

It is not neccesarily a partisan thing. I am a Republican. I am also the parent of a teenager and I am shocked at all the things that get thrust into our justice system these days.

The tickets at schools for minor stuff. Medium stuff trumped into felonies.

Now we have another thing to go charging after...

By Jason

Nov 11, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this

Looks like just another case of the Redneck Republican Right-Wingers crusading against something they know absolutely nothing about.

Yes, let's come up with some Draconian law to keep our kids "safe" from Salvia all the while they are bombarded with images that are aimed at getting young people to consume alcohol. As usual with the hypocrites, whatever drug they like to do is perfectly acceptable, but everything else is sin.

By anonymous

Nov 11, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this

And all the politicians and all the robed men
Couldn't put Old Glory back together again.

Get smart on crime, not tough on crime.

Think about what's up, Doc.

By anonymous

Nov 11, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this

Here a kid, there a kid, evrywhere a kid-kid,
Here a law, there a law, everywhere a law-law,
Here a jail, there a jail, everywhere a jail-jail.