Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 Source: Parry Sound North Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2007 Parry Sound North Star Contact: http://www.parrysoundnorthstar.com/e/contact-form.php?contact=52 Website: http://www.parrysoundnorthstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1618 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n850/a08.html Author: Russell Barth GIVE SALVIA A BREAK To the editor: Re: Petition to ban 'magic mint' in July 11 North Star "We have enough drugs in our area," said Mayor Richard Adams. "We don't need another one." Why? Who is Mayor Adams, or I, or anyone, to say who should put what into their own bodies? Who is he, everyone's dad? Furthermore, because of the spiritual nature of salvia's effects, he is also, in effect, saying "People shouldn't be allowed to think this way". Why? Who is he, or I, or anyone to say which is the right way to connect with The Creator, and which is the wrong way? For all any of us know, using psychotropic plants to have psychedelic experiences actually pleases God, and maybe all this singing, and fancy churches, and long robes make Him really mad. God made all the plants; see Genesis. God made salvia! Is the mayor saying he knows better than The Creator? Would he put God in jail for "inventing salvia with intent to distribute"? Beyond that, there is no better way to get a kid to try a drug than telling him it is dangerous, crazyfun, and that it will make adults angry if they use it. Making a drug illegal is half the fun for some users, so a criminal ban is like saying "I dare ya to try it". This one article, and the mayor-induced hype around it, just encouraged countless new teenaged thrill seekers. Banning a fun substance also gives the gangsters one more commodity to profit from, and if the 70-year-long prohibition on pot is any indication, banning salvia will likely result in a huge increase in teen use. So to recap, Mayor Adams wants the government to control what you can put into your own body, what you can put in your mind, while hyping a relatively safe herb as the new thrill ride for kids, and calling for a prohibition that will serve gangsters and make salvia as easy for kids to access as pot. RUSSELL BARTH Federal medical marijuana licence holder Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath