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Salvia Banned in Kansas
April 28, 2008

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News Summary

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has signed into law a measure that criminalizes the possession, use and sale of salvia divinorum, a hallucinogenic herb, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported April 26.

Kansas joined at least nine other states that restrict use of salvia, which is in the mint family and remains legal under U.S. federal drug law. About 20 states are currently considering banning or otherwise limiting the availability of salvia.

Salvia gained notoriety when the parents of a Delaware teen blamed the herb for the suicide death of their son, and some Internet videos depict wild behavior on the part of users.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:
(Comments now appear first to last)

Posted by Anonymous on 29 Apr 08 09:06 PM EDT
interesting how this herb which has pain relieving qualities are overlooked when this law was signed. instead of makeing it illegal put age restrictions on it. Like alcohol. How many kids have died of alcohol poisoning. let make alcohol illeagal also.

Posted by anonymous on 07 May 08 10:54 AM EDT
While we're at it, we should ban heavy metal music as well, because, let' remember, heavy metal causes kids to commit suicide as well. And just to be safe we should pass a law making it mandatory for all teens to take antidepressants, since we all know antidepressants don't lead to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Just ask the pharmaceutical companies... see if you get a straight answer. Gotta love our government.

Posted by Matt on 27 May 08 11:09 AM EDT
Here's the deal - depressed people self-medicate. It is not the CAUSE of depression. It is a SYMPTOM. Must each grieving parent turn their child's death into some noble crusade against people's own choices? I sympathize with your loss, but if you're too ignorant to believe that your child had emotional problems which led to substance abuse, not vice versa, I doubt your capacity to raise children in the first place.

Posted by Eric L. Carter on 07 Sep 08 05:05 PM EDT
There was no evidence that the salvia was in this kids system at time of death.Kids now find big pharma is killing them.Salvia is a safe and no one has been hospitalized.Politicians like K.S. do not do enough research and are easily duped without looking at the whole picture.Stop jumping on the bandwaggon.What about the pharmacuticals who lie. People die from their first drink of alcohol a DEPRESSANT and a STIMUNANT due to the sugars which can cause a child to act wild. Salvia is a meditation herb and has calming euphoric effects and some say they have found new inner peace and harmony with themselves(I know pretty evil stuff isn't it).I have found nothing wrong with salvia in my research except for the govenmt reasoning for making it illegal.Salvia Maddness?no.Salvia Insanity?no.Salvia Serenity.True,and is catchy but will not pit the public against it.Anyway the public obviously does not have a say anyway.Why are politicians acting like god.Maybe it is to protect us from what god has given us.If you taboo anything it only gets worse.The ignorance and corruption of our current politicians discusts me more than the drug cartels.Better check on catnip as well i hear cats go crazy.

Posted by Eric L. Carter on 07 Sep 08 05:08 PM EDT
Salvia should not be illegal.

Posted by In Kansas on 20 Oct 08 10:27 AM EDT
The kids I treat have described the use of salvia...like doing acid. They are not using it for medicinal purposes they are getting blown... I think banning it is not necessary but being in possession of dried herb and under the age of 18 should be a trip to treatment. I think the problem is that addicted kids...people will justify using things like salvia because it is not illegal. what to do??? I believe that Gov. Sebelius is on the side of recovery efforts in this state and is trying to help. If there is another way to cope with this GROWING problem how about not getting mad at a proposed solution and offering answers.

Posted by Bonner Springs on 08 Apr 09 06:03 PM EDT
I really cant tolerate the ignorance of so many americans. Drugs caused my childs suicide, videos, music, movies....Give me a break. You caused your childs suicide. Your child was depressed and suicidal before he took Salvia. Salvia didnt induce him to off himself. It more than likely took him away from his reality so he could not think about the current hell he has to live in. When are we going to stop blaming things and other people and start taking responsibility for our own actions. Nobody wants to look like a failure, but guess what we are. Why cant we put restrictions on Salvia. Cant purchase under 18? If that is the case then we should make it illegal to purchase and possess spraypaint, markers, alcohol, cigarettes, cars, rope,knives, and pretty much everything else we come in contact on a day to day basis. When are people going to open their eyes and realize you arent going to save the world by taking things out of it. If people are unhappy they will inevitably find a way to end that unhappiness.

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