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PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCES ENHANCE ONE'S LIFE

I have a few comments about the recent article entitled "Salvia Questioned." I am thankful that The Oracle decided to cover this important issue, and I hope that more space is devoted to covering psychedelic issues in our community. 

First, the comparison of Salvia Divinorum to LSD, which is common in mainstream media coverage of the issue, is really an exercise in misinformation, as is obvious from reading sources such as the Journal of Ethnopharmacology or browsing the thousands of experience reports at erowid.org.  It is notable that the effects of smoked salvia material, whether the leaves or the extract, last only a few minutes, while LSD lasts several hours. 

Also, the available literature strongly suggests that the method of action of Salvinorin-A ( salvia's main active compound ) is in its affinity as a kappa-opioid agonist, an action completely unrelated to LSD, which is an indole and a 5-HT2A ( Serotonin / Tryptamine ) agonist. 

Having used salvia divinorum six times over the past four years, I can say that the experience can be quite astounding and terrifying.  It is, in many ways, unspeakable.  It is quite different from cannabis, LSD, psilocybin or any other drug I know of.  Although I would not recommend Salvia Divinorum as a first psychedelic experience, I did have one particularly intense experience about three years ago that changed my views about God and existence quite significantly and has led to several lasting, positive changes in my lifestyle. 

Contemplating these thoughts has in turn also led to several other profound experiences, some also drug related, most not. 

While the psychedelic studies literature is only beginning to catch up with the use of salvia in the English-speaking world, there are a few notable books on the material and its experience, including D.M.  Turner's "Salvinorin: The Psychedelic Essence of Salvia Divinorum."

Prohibiting the possession of salvia or the sale of it to adults would be a mistake. 

It would certainly not achieve any goal of making it less popular or less available to teens. 

Have we not learned from the dismal failure of prohibition of other drugs?

Consider that MDMA ( sometimes called "ecstasy" ) was virtually unknown, outside of its use in psychotherapy, when it was banned. 

Now look at it!

The Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics ( www.cognitiveliberty.org ) has been leading the way on ensuring that salvia divinorum is not relegated to the illicit market. 

To conclude on a deeper note: adults in a free society have a fundamental and inalienable right to explore states of spiritual and religious significance.  The prohibition of psychedelic materials is a very real and significant abridgment of this right - there may well be no other policy which negatively impacts so many people's spiritual practice in such an intimate way.  Salvia Divinorum, when used properly, has the potential to open a doorway to states of mind which should be out-of-bounds for government interference, and in my opinion this plant deserves to be considered amongst the study-worthy psychedelic materials.