Pubdate: Thu, 21 Dec 2006 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) Copyright: 2006 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 Author: David Hutton, Saskatchewan News Network POLICE CONCERNED ABOUT LEGAL HERB SASKATOON -- City police are concerned about a legal hallucinogen sold in hemp stores and on the Internet. But local users defend the powerful herbal psychedelic as a mind altering but safe trip. The herb is salvia divinorum, known more commonly as salvia, magic mint, or the diviner's sage, an unregulated hallucinogen that is legal to possess, distribute and consume in most places in the world and can be bought over the Internet or in hemp stores. In Canada, salvia is not regulated under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act but is banned in Australia. Several U.S. states are currently considering a ban. Saskatoon police admit they haven't had any specific problems with salvia and can't do anything about it, but say it may only be a matter of time before something happens. "Stores shouldn't be selling it to anybody, period," says Sgt. Jerome Engele with the city police integrated drug unit. "It's legal and that's a problem. Unless drugs have some kind of medicinal purpose, they shouldn't be sold. It's caused epileptic seizures and put people in comas in other places. Stores that sell the stuff should be held liable if anyone is injured as a result." Health Canada has been monitoring the national and international trend of salvia use but said the long-term effects of the hallucinogen are unknown. In the short term, it said, it has been known to cause unconsciousness and short-term memory loss, but they are not aware of any dependency. "If it ever came to the point where there was an influx of use and police and health-care professionals said this substance posed a threat, then we would take appropriate action," said Health Canada spokesman Jason Bouzanis. "For now, we're continuing to collect relevant information specific to this substance." Salvia has been used for hundreds of years by the Mazatec indigenous people of Mexico for spiritual trips and is usually chewed or smoked. Around three years ago it made its way into commercial sale in Canada. It gives users a short but powerful hallucination, lasting anywhere from 30 seconds to 30 minutes. Dr. Bryan Roth, director of the psychoactive drug screening program at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, said Salvinorin A, salvia's active hallucinogenic compound is unique and activates a different brain receptor than other drugs such as LSD, the "kappa-opioid" receptor. He said this causes a "profound effect on the human consciousness." The price of salvia ranges from $15 to $150 in stores and on the internet, depending on the potency. "It's a religious type experience," says Kerry Kunka, owner of B.O.B. HeadQuarters, a Saskatoon hemp store. "It slows you down and gives you a chance to really experience yourself. "In Western society we're getting out of touch with the spiritual part of life. There are two ways to look at society and some people don't want to see freethinking in the world and want everyone to conform." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek