Possession of the hallucinogenic plant salvia divinorum is now a felony offense in Illinois, the Associated Press reported Dec. 26.

As of Jan. 1, a new Illinois law puts salvia possession -- which is not even a crime in most other states, or under federal law -- in the same class as heroin or LSD. "We decided to move forward rather than waiting for someone to be killed because of it," said state Rep. Dennis Reboletti, who sponsored the law outlawing the herb.

Prior to the law's implementation, some Illinois residents were reportedly buying up stocks of salvia from local merchants.