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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,504
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New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum
#7466820 - 09/29/07 09:58 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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New laws in "War on Drugs" target an obscure desert sage plant, Salvia Divinorum, with criminal penalties By Michael Richardson September 28, 2007 - OpEdNews.com
Although the "War on Drugs" has imprisoned hundreds of thousands of Americans and cost billions of dollars, illegal drugs continue to flow across our borders in record quantities. While the legal and medical communities rethink failed strategies to curb drug use, the politicians have opened a new front in the war with criminal penalties against Salvia Divinorum. Salvia is a member of the sage family that grows in the Mexican desert and has a long history as a medicinal plant by Mazatec herbalists. Non-habit forming and non-addictive, Salvia has very little reported history of abuse. Salvinorin is the psychoactive ingredient contained in the plant that induces an introspective alteration of consciousness for a brief period following ingestion.
Salvia is largely unknown to the general public and has long been an obscure "legal high" that was difficult to obtain. The internet changed all of that and now puts Salvia in the hands of anyone with a computer and a credit card. Lawmakers, often clueless about the pharmacology of the medicinal plant, have reacted with shock, alarm, and legislation. Daniel Siebert runs the Salvia Divinorum Research and Information Center and also sells the plant and its extracts on-line from the Sage Wisdom Salvia Shop. Siebert says, "Because it is a powerful consciousness-altering herb, some regulation of sales is sensible and appropriate, but criminalizing possession certainly is not." Australia was the first country to prohibit Salvia despite the admission there is "no evidence of a major public health hazard" by the committee responsible for the ban. The anti-Salvia law went into effect June 1, 2002. Denmark passed a ban on the plant in August 2003 that includes a two-year prison term for possession. Finland, Norway and Iceland require a doctor's prescription to use Salvia, which has to be imported, as it does not naturally grow there. Sweden declared Salvia and salvinorin to be controlled substances on April 1, 2006. Italy banned sale of Salvia in 2004 and possession in 2005. Spain classified the plant as "toxic" and banned sale but not possession in May 2004. Japan has approved a five-year prison term for the importation, production or sale of salvinorin making it one of the harshest penalties on the books. The growing response to internet sales of Salvia has also caught the attention of U.S. lawmakers. In 2002, U.S. Representative Joe Baca [D-CA] sought to make Salvia and salvinorin a federally controlled substance but the bill failed to make it to a vote. The Drug Enforcement Administration followed with an ongoing "eight factor analysis" of the desert shrub. The eight factors are mandated by the Controlled Substances Act that requires a review prior to classification as a controlled substance and include pharmacology, potential and history of abuse, and public health risk. Meanwhile, legislators in the states have been busy. In August 2005, Salvia and salvinorin became controlled substances in Missouri and Louisiana. In Louisiana, there is a five-year penalty for possession where it is classified as a "hallucinogenic plant". Proposed legislation in Oregon to place the plant on the controlled substances list died in committee this year. A similar bill with a 10-year prison term for possession failed in Oregon in 2003. A bill in Wyoming this past legislative session was introduced to ban Salvia but died in committee. Pending legislation in New York to impose a civil fine for the sale of Salvia passed the Senate earlier this year but has stalled in an Assembly committee. In Illinois, legislation to put Salvia on the state list of controlled substances was signed into law and goes into effect on January 1, 2008. In Tennessee, salvinorin possession became a misdemeanor on July 1, 2006 while Salvia can still be owned as an ornamental plant or taken as a homeopathic compound. A similar approach in Georgia has passed the Senate and is pending in the House. In Oklahoma, salvinorin was declared a state controlled substance in May 2006. Also, that same month Delaware made Salvia a controlled substance but not salvinorin, the reverse of Oklahoma. Pending legislation in Alaska to make Salvia a controlled substance is in committee, as are similar measures in New Jersey, California, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Maine just enacted a law last week that treats Salvia like tobacco and bans its use by minors. While in Virginia, a 2007 bill to declare Salvia and salvinorin hallucinogenic substances was tabled in committee. North Dakota declared Salvia and its derivatives to be controlled substances on August 1, 2007. In Iowa, possession of Salvia or salvinorin would be a misdemeanor while delivery would be a felony under pending legislation. In Utah, 2007 legislation to make Salvia a controlled substance passed the house but failed to advance in the Senate. Similar legislation in Florida this session failed in a Senate committee. Three new bills to ban Salvia in Texas failed to advance and died in committee. In Wisconsin, a bill is in committee that bans Salvia but recognizes salvinorin as a homeopathic compound. The uneven and frenetic pace of anti-Salvia legislation shows no signs of slowing and more legislation can be expected to be introduced in 2008 in a rush to fight the "War on Drugs" by politicians throughout the nation.
Michael Richardson is a freelance writer based in Boston. Richardson writes about politics, election law, human nutrition, ethics, and music. In 2004 Richardson was Ralph Nader's national ballot access coordinator.
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Seventy
equanimitor



Registered: 05/24/07
Posts: 912
Loc: Canada (PNW)
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: veggie]
#7466956 - 09/29/07 10:52 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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sigh
its coming guys, I think 100% that salvia's eventually going to be federally scheduled for you americans. crappy thing about that is canada usually follows suite...
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letsmakekill
Tak Aprt Yr Hed



Registered: 12/20/06
Posts: 196
Loc: Iceland
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: Seventy]
#7467000 - 09/29/07 11:14 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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this absolutely disgusts me. all it seems to me is state following state, in a very blind direction, hence "the blind leading the blind". though i would have to say this is a more accurate article referring to the drug, where they actually note how long it lasts! and that it is not habit-forming nor addictive. so, you have to really wonder - why would such a drug be denounced as harmful or even worthy of "2 years prison time"? possibly the relation with marijuana in a sense you can grow the plant yourself, and even (with enough info on the internet and very little tools) extract the salvinorin yourself?
whatever. the government and this proclaimed "war on drugs" is constantly trying to take away the right people have of spiritual freedom and their pursuit of happiness. and of course they do not want such drugs in existence, because it actually makes a person think OUTSIDE of the "well-respected morals of the good ole U S of A." i honestly cannot wait to move out of this country.
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In a life we live with shreds and trees Swallow them whole right down our bellies Soon enough our eyes grew wide Soon enough we had the time to feel alive To feel alive...
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Le_Canard
The Duk Abides


Registered: 05/16/03
Posts: 94,392
Loc: Earthfarm 1
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: Seventy]
#7467025 - 09/29/07 11:21 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Yep. I''m expecting salvia to be scheduled here in the US any day now, too.
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Eraserhead
Lost Soul



Registered: 05/26/06
Posts: 1,363
Loc: Earth
Last seen: 14 years, 3 months
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: Le_Canard]
#7467197 - 09/29/07 12:28 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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I really need some damn cuttings, sigh, gonna be a sad time when another of natures goodies gets denied to us legally.
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Visionary Tools



Registered: 06/23/07
Posts: 7,953
Last seen: 1 year, 7 months
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: Eraserhead]
#7467304 - 09/29/07 01:06 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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How about doing something about it instead of "Oh look at those fuckers, they're going to make it illegal!"
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Robo
R Series 66Y
Registered: 05/08/07
Posts: 14,861
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: Visionary Tools]
#7467401 - 09/29/07 01:39 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Visionary Tools said: How about doing something about it instead of "Oh look at those fuckers, they're going to make it illegal!"
What would you suggest we do, Mr. Visonary?
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letsmakekill
Tak Aprt Yr Hed



Registered: 12/20/06
Posts: 196
Loc: Iceland
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: Visionary Tools]
#7467411 - 09/29/07 01:43 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Visionary Tools said: How about doing something about it instead of "Oh look at those fuckers, they're going to make it illegal!"
not to sound like a complete douchebag or an asshole. but what really can we do? i'm a 19 year old college student who works part-time at a grocery store. you think if i even begin to talk to any one person that is government related, or media related, that they will listen? not to mention, they aint said shitt bout my state yet . i'm just irritated with the fact that our government and society has to view such a beautiful, interesting thing such as salvia divinorum that nature has to offer us in a very immoral-grotesque sort of way.
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In a life we live with shreds and trees Swallow them whole right down our bellies Soon enough our eyes grew wide Soon enough we had the time to feel alive To feel alive...
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Layzie
Me So sLeeepy!

Registered: 08/05/07
Posts: 174
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: letsmakekill]
#7467462 - 09/29/07 02:06 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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see thats the problem. Only 19 and work at a grocery store so what. The government works for the people. Peopl need to read the constitution and realize people can overturn the government. Thats why theirs sites like these if people got together they can do something about it instead of complaining. WE could change and overthrow the government in a hearbeat. But people in this age sit back and take it in the ass.
Why should a few people make bans and laws That go against the majorityof the people.
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pokermush
Waterboardingmyself toprotect America!


Registered: 09/17/06
Posts: 475
Loc: Utah
Last seen: 15 years, 9 months
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: Robo]
#7467532 - 09/29/07 02:39 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Adagio said:
Quote:
Visionary Tools said: How about doing something about it instead of "Oh look at those fuckers, they're going to make it illegal!"
What would you suggest we do, Mr. Visonary?
I'm afraid that the national fight is out of our hands for the most part. Beyond calling your senators and representative, there's not a lot the average person can do.
I'm in Utah, and started this thread to gather some stories of Salvia helping addicts. This information, along with others, will be presented to the committee when the legislation comes up here again.
Last year, there was zero opposition to the bill, it didn't pass because the senate never got to it. This year, the proponents of the bill are going to have some real opposition that is armed with the facts.
The truth is that if your state is considering a salvia ban, even one or two people can make a huge difference. The place to do it is in the committee, where concerned citizens are able to address the committee directly. If your state is considering a ban, spend a little time to gather some information, prepare with the facts, and get as many people as you can to go to the committee hearing to oppose prohibition.
It may not work, but realize that most of these laws are made without any opposition at all. Merely showing up to speak against the proposed law can have a huge impact.
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letsmakekill
Tak Aprt Yr Hed



Registered: 12/20/06
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Loc: Iceland
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: Layzie]
#7467539 - 09/29/07 02:41 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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no shitt the government works for the people, thats pretty much the entire idea behind having an 'organized government' system. and just because people read the constitution and know their rights, actually makes them no different from you or i in a sense that unless they actually have somewhat of a credible stature in society, they will get nowhere really with voicing their opinion in this 'day and age' and just 'sit back and take it in the ass' - which is an extremely crude thing to say. i completely forgot that instead of 'sitting back and taking it in the ass' like you proclaimed that prolly every single person on this board does, i can actually go infront of millions of ppl and voice my opinion and have a strong following in my views and beliefs.
take for example timothy leary. think about all of what he stood for and proclaimed to nearly all of the baby-boomer generation. he believed strongly enough in lsd to have so many people try it and experience life for what it was. do you think if you were alive back then (and maybe you were?) and you tried lsd, and you thought it was such an amazing chemical you wanted to share with society, that you would have been able to? no. and because you were no different than the people you attended school with, or worked with, or hung around. timothy leary became such an icon because he was a credible psychologist who had conducted many studies and actually had something to show for what he was saying.
so in response to your post, i do not believe that we could change or overthrow the government in a heartbeat. because lets think logically here - how many people in the united states do YOU think uses salvia divinorum in a recreational matter for spiritual reasons? more than likely not many as i'm sure you or many would like to think - so the reason why we let a few people make bans and laws that affect a 'majority' of people, is simply because that 'majority' is often overseen and not taken seriously enough. though i do agree with pokermush that a commitee would be the best approach to solving such a problem - it is still unbelievably hard finding people in your community who share the same beliefs as you, and are just as comitted and passionate in fighting for what it is you believe.
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In a life we live with shreds and trees Swallow them whole right down our bellies Soon enough our eyes grew wide Soon enough we had the time to feel alive To feel alive...
Edited by letsmakekill (09/29/07 02:49 PM)
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pokermush
Waterboardingmyself toprotect America!


Registered: 09/17/06
Posts: 475
Loc: Utah
Last seen: 15 years, 9 months
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: letsmakekill]
#7467552 - 09/29/07 02:48 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
i'm just irritated with the fact that our government and society has to view such a beautiful, interesting thing such as salvia divinorum that nature has to offer us in a very immoral-grotesque sort of way.
Here's how this stuff happens:
An irresponsible journalist does a hack-scare piece about "dangerous" salvia, which led some poor upstanding kid back east to commit suicide. Salvia is so dangerous that it makes people have out of body experiences and want to kill kittens. A bunch of parents (bunch means five) are extremely concerned and call the PTA president demanding salvia be made illegal to "protect our children".
One phone call later, the PTA has a state lawmaker drafting the new law. It's presented to committee, where the lawmakers ask tough questions like "do we really need this law?" and "is this really so dangerous that it should be completely banned?", and in the absense of anyone to say no, the bill passes committee.
After committee it gets to the floor of the house, and nobody is going to vote "no", because that's being soft on drugs. Then it goes to the senate, and two guys vote no because they didn't get to attach their pork. Then it goes to the governor who signs it into law.
These bills CAN be stopped, but only before they are approved by the committee. These bills pass because nobody fights them... the people who would oppose them sit at home and lament that they don't have any influence.
If you even just show up at the committee and tell them what you think, you have HUGE influence.
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letsmakekill
Tak Aprt Yr Hed



Registered: 12/20/06
Posts: 196
Loc: Iceland
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: pokermush]
#7467567 - 09/29/07 02:54 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
pokermush said:
Quote:
i'm just irritated with the fact that our government and society has to view such a beautiful, interesting thing such as salvia divinorum that nature has to offer us in a very immoral-grotesque sort of way.
Here's how this stuff happens:
An irresponsible journalist does a hack-scare piece about "dangerous" salvia, which led some poor upstanding kid back east to commit suicide. Salvia is so dangerous that it makes people have out of body experiences and want to kill kittens. A bunch of parents (bunch means five) are extremely concerned and call the PTA president demanding salvia be made illegal to "protect our children".
One phone call later, the PTA has a state lawmaker drafting the new law. It's presented to committee, where the lawmakers ask tough questions like "do we really need this law?" and "is this really so dangerous that it should be completely banned?", and in the absense of anyone to say no, the bill passes committee.
After committee it gets to the floor of the house, and nobody is going to vote "no", because that's being soft on drugs. Then it goes to the senate, and two guys vote no because they didn't get to attach their pork. Then it goes to the governor who signs it into law.
These bills CAN be stopped, but only before they are approved by the committee. These bills pass because nobody fights them... the people who would oppose them sit at home and lament that they don't have any influence.
If you even just show up at the committee and tell them what you think, you have HUGE influence.
Very understandable. I apologize for not being much of an informant of such 'political matters', though everything you wrote makes incredible sense. I wish you the best of luck with your committee and fighting for your salvia rights - just as any person should do. The reason as to why all this is pretty much of no "real" importantance to me is because my state has yet to even be brought into this tangled mess of banning, etc. Though when my state does start discussing banning laws, i will strongly take the advice in which you gave. Goood vibes man
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In a life we live with shreds and trees Swallow them whole right down our bellies Soon enough our eyes grew wide Soon enough we had the time to feel alive To feel alive...
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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist


Registered: 03/10/07
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: letsmakekill]
#7467690 - 09/29/07 04:22 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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> not to sound like a complete douchebag or an asshole. but what really can we do? i'm a 19 year old college student who works part-time at a grocery store. you think if i even begin to talk to any one person that is government related, or media related, that they will listen
When Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA) proposed the California law to ban salvia, I heard about it and immediately called his office to tell them to cut it out. The secretary asked for my phone number and said that someone would call me back, which is not at all what I expected. An hour later I got a call from a legislative assistant who was _very_ well informed about drugs, but was on the other side. Turns out that this is the guy who wrote the law. I spoke with him for about two hours and it was a really good conversation. We discussed many aspects of the proposed law, how much harm it would cause, how much good it would do, etc. I reminded him how no one had head of MDMA in 1984, and shortly after it was outlawed its use exploded. I don't know if I had any direct effect, but it felt really good to be able to speak with the man directly and make an attempt to reason with him.
He told me that he intended to introduce it the next year, but he never did.
> The truth is that if your state is considering a salvia ban, even one or two people can make a huge difference. The place to do it is in the committee
That is a great suggestion. The problem is that members of the general public rarely have any idea how to find out what the committee is doing.
One of the most powerful things a citizen could do is monitor the committee's activities, and when they become objectionable inform the stoner community so they can take action. If anyone knows how to find out what the committee's upcoming agenda will be, please let me know.
A good way to inform people is mailing lists - There are a few good national mailing lists, but state-wide drug reform lists would be the best venue for this kind of thing. If there are no drug reform mailing lists in your state, it would be a good idea to start one before you need it, so when the committee is about to make a big mistake, a few informed citizens can show up and set them straight.
You can almost certainly use marijuana reform mailing lists to oppose salvia laws if you frame it as a war on plants.
Gathering information about how Salvia can help addicts is a great idea. If it can be shown to have helpful effects and little potential for abuse, it would have a hard time getting out of committee.
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pokermush
Waterboardingmyself toprotect America!


Registered: 09/17/06
Posts: 475
Loc: Utah
Last seen: 15 years, 9 months
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: Alan Rockefeller]
#7467785 - 09/29/07 05:13 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Alan Rockefeller said: ... The problem is that members of the general public rarely have any idea how to find out what the committee is doing.
Good point. In my state, just go to the state's legislature web page (really really easy to find in every state) and you can search for bills and you can follow them as they progress. The best way to find out about the committee is to check regularly for bills that affect salvia, then watch for those bills to get assigned to committee.
Quote:
One of the most powerful things a citizen could do is monitor the committee's activities, and when they become objectionable inform the stoner community so they can take action. If anyone knows how to find out what the committee's upcoming agenda will be, please let me know.
A good way to inform people is mailing lists - There are a few good national mailing lists, but state-wide drug reform lists would be the best venue for this kind of thing. If there are no drug reform mailing lists in your state, it would be a good idea to start one before you need it, so when the committee is about to make a big mistake, a few informed citizens can show up and set them straight.
You can almost certainly use marijuana reform mailing lists to oppose salvia laws if you frame it as a war on plants.
Gathering information about how Salvia can help addicts is a great idea. If it can be shown to have helpful effects and little potential for abuse, it would have a hard time getting out of committee.
I'm toying with the idea of putting together a web site for salvia, dedicated to keeping salvia legal and helping educate people about it. I think some sort of centralized effort could really help the individual efforts in each state. Unfortunately my time is just spread too thin and web design/maintenance isn't my thing.
Edit to add: Almost forgot, thanks for taking the time to call the lawmakers and voice your opposition! 5 shroomies for you!
Edited by pokermush (09/29/07 05:15 PM)
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CapHat
Stranger


Registered: 10/05/09
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: veggie]
#11191695 - 10/06/09 03:11 AM (14 years, 3 months ago) |
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Um.. first of all its not a war on drugs but a war on people who do drugs. Second, where's the crime? Where's the corpusdeliti? Who can tell me the 2 elements of a crime? I thought governments will be instituted among men and woman FOR the protection and maintain of individual rights. Whos righst did those drug users violate? Selling drugs dont make a victim unless the seller is making you buy. Any crime that may arise is not the drugs fault but the users. Kids educate them. if your kids do drugs its not the sellers fault but the parents fault... A BILL was passed....hahahahaha. Like a dollar bill or a bill in the mail or a bill of rights? BILLS or a negotiable instrument. BILL OF RIGHTS = NEGOTIABLE RIGHTS. ARE BOARDERS hahahahah the land belongs to KING Gorge. Any slave who has negotiated his rights away can see that in the treaty of 1786.
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Coaster
BaĘżal



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Posts: 33,501
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Re: New laws in "War on Drugs" target Salvia Divinorum [Re: Le_Canard]
#11191809 - 10/06/09 04:54 AM (14 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
ToiletDuk said: Yep. I''m expecting salvia to be scheduled here in the US any day now, too. 
well its been 2 years i dont thnk itll b banned in the next 2 years either
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