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Bridgeburner
Not spiritual at all.




Registered: 09/16/06
Posts: 20,010
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Use of Salvia growing as recreational drug
#7823420 - 01/02/08 11:44 AM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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http://cjonline.com/stories/010208/loc_230824424.shtml
An old hallucinogenic drug is growing in popularity with young people and causing concerns for health and law enforcement officials.
And in Kansas, as in most states, it's perfectly legal to sell it, buy it or ingest it.
In fact, the main concern of law and health officials is that so little is known about the drug and how it works.
It's called salvia divinorum.
Some Native Americans have been using it in spiritual ceremonies for hundreds of years. It is native to certain areas of the Sierra Mazateca region of Oaxaca, Mexico.
The leaves of the plant originally were chewed but are more often smoked these days. They contain a chemical that produces a brief but intense hallucinogenic state that often lasts only 15 minutes or less.
Jeff Brandau, special agent in charge for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, said his agency doesn't have any information about the extent of use of the drug in Kansas. That's because is isn't illegal to sell it and no law enforcement agencies are reporting it being sold.
He said he did receive a few phone calls from the Lawrence area a few weeks ago from people seeking information after a news story described the drug. He said he has no firsthand knowledge, but has been told there are some "head shops" in Lawrence selling it.
Dr. Eric Voth, a Topeka physician specializing in internal and addictive medicine, said he is concerned because there are no comprehensive studies of the drug's short-term and long-term affects on the human body, especially the brain.
A person ingesting it has no idea how much his or her body can tolerate.
Voth has special expertise in the drug culture because of his membership (and now chairmanship) in the Institute of Global Drug Policy, a Florida-based think tank that studies the issues and advises Congress and other governments and organizations.
He said salvia seems to be attacting "cult'' users, and he hopes the trend will fade away.
Salvia isn't classified as a controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. There are places in the United States where it can be purchased off a store shelf. It can also be ordered through the Internet.
Brandau said the signs parents should watch for that their children may be using salvia are the same as for other mind-altering substances. If a parent finds an unknown leafy substance, he or she should ask what it is and where the child got it.
Other signs include changes in mood or behavior such as uncontrollable laughter.
It appears only one death has been attributed to use of the drug, and everyone involved seems familiar with that story.
A coroner concluded that the use of salvia was a factor in the suicide of 16-year-old Brett Chidester in Delaware. His mother, Kathy Chidester, told a CBS reporter that Brett's mood became darker after starting to use salvia.
"He'd say, 'Mom, it's legal. There's nothing wrong with it. If it was bad it wouldn't be legal,' " she said.
The sale of salvia has been banned in some states, but so far the federal government has declined to outlaw or regulate it.
A check of the Drug Enforcement Agency Web site shows little in the way of information about salvia that is useful to the layman.
The Web site displays a DEA bulletin from June 2003 in which an article written from the National Drug Intelligence Center has been reproduced.
"The long-term effects of Salvia divinorum abuse are unknown, as medical studies undertaken to examine the drug's physiological effects have focused only on short-term effects," the article stated. "However, information provided by abusers indicates that the negative long-term effects of Salvia divinorum may be similar to those produced by other hallucinogens such as LSD including depression and schizophrenia.
"Some abusers also indicate that long-term abuse can cause ... 'flashbacks.' Some others report that the drug caused them to become introverted and sometimes unable to communicate clearly."
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Molasses
sobriety with aside of what thefuck am i doing?



Registered: 11/03/07
Posts: 564
Loc: Marijuanaville, Vermont
Last seen: 11 years, 5 months
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Re: Use of Salvia growing as recreational drug [Re: Bridgeburner]
#7823524 - 01/02/08 12:12 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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wow, so maybe the government should be more worried about alcohol and its negative effects on our country as opposed to demonizing a drug that most people won't even take a second time.
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ROX
Traveling...



Registered: 11/18/06
Posts: 231
Loc: Croatia
Last seen: 10 years, 11 months
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Re: Use of Salvia growing as recreational drug [Re: Molasses]
#7824000 - 01/02/08 02:44 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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Quote:
Molasses said: wow, so maybe the government should be more worried about alcohol and its negative effects on our country as opposed to demonizing a drug that most people won't even take a second time.
Speak for yourself.
But I do find it extremely pathetic that so mayn articles shit with prejudices against Salvia, a herb probably even safer than weed.
-------------------- ~~Goa and psychedelic trance, psychedelic chillout mixes >>> http://www.rox-unreal.net/ <<<
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dill705
Amazed



Registered: 12/10/07
Posts: 3,779
Loc: The Cat's Cradle
Last seen: 6 years, 3 months
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Re: Use of Salvia growing as recreational drug [Re: ROX]
#7824107 - 01/02/08 03:10 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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Man, this is about the tenth article I've seen in a week about salvia and all of them have said we don't really know shit about this drug but it sure as hell sounds like its destroying our youth. This is what's wrong with our country and the world, ignorance. Stupid motherfuckers tell you their opinions and state them as facts and then the public is too ignorant to investigate their claims for themselves. Just look at the Iraq war and you can see why we still fight (and lose) the war on drugs everyday.
-------------------- My advice is to find those things that give pleasure and do them often without too much attachment and relax and wait for the show to end. -Icelander- I like free markets and all. Truly I do, at least in general, but there needs to be some kind of oversight in recognition of sustainability. Life works the same way, on a bunch of sustainable systems. Why not honor what made us what we are and take some lessons? Nature FTW! ~dill705~
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TTT
Cultivate the inside


Registered: 08/07/06
Posts: 4,340
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Re: Use of Salvia growing as recreational drug [Re: dill705]
#7824513 - 01/02/08 05:37 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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Everyone I know dont even like Salvia and told me not to do it because it sucks. Of course I still will because Im interested in it for different reasons.
These articles piss me off.
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Konyap


Registered: 06/30/07
Posts: 33,945
Loc: Planet Piss
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
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Re: Use of Salvia growing as recreational drug [Re: TTT]
#7826356 - 01/03/08 02:50 AM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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i feel like im in crunch time just to grab a G 
hopefully soon tho i cant believe theyre making it illegal, itll be on the streets in no time
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LoWgRoW
Strange



Registered: 09/22/07
Posts: 296
Last seen: 6 years, 11 months
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Re: Use of Salvia growing as recreational drug [Re: Konyap]
#7826597 - 01/03/08 07:56 AM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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I never tried it, don't know anyone who has. Is it that intense? "a brief but intense hallucinogenic state that often lasts only 15 minutes or less" or is it the media playing it up?
I know it will be illegal soon. That I do know.
-------------------- Avoid negative people.
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Irdamage
Autobot


Registered: 11/19/05
Posts: 1,491
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 7 years, 1 month
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Re: Use of Salvia growing as recreational drug [Re: LoWgRoW]
#7826621 - 01/03/08 08:16 AM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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"That's because is isn't illegal to sell it and no law enforcement agencies are reporting it being sold."
"Dr. Eric Voth, a Topeka physician specializing in internal and addictive medicine, said he is concerned because there are no comprehensive studies of the drug's short-term and long-term affects on the human body, especially the brain."
Does anyone else find this to be a tad foolish? there admitting that they've legalized a hallucinogenic that no one has done any long term testing on. Thanks Dr.Voth of the Institute of Global Drug Policy for pointing out how useless your own team actually is.
This shit is full of so many catch 22's
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LoWgRoW
Strange



Registered: 09/22/07
Posts: 296
Last seen: 6 years, 11 months
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Re: Use of Salvia growing as recreational drug [Re: Konyap]
#7826655 - 01/03/08 08:39 AM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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I never tried it, don't know anyone who has. Is it that intense? "a brief but intense hallucinogenic state that often lasts only 15 minutes or less" or is it the media playing it up?
I know it will be illegal soon. That I do know.
-------------------- Avoid negative people.
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Nebula
Stranger


Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 172
Last seen: 15 years, 11 months
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Re: Use of Salvia growing as recreational drug [Re: LoWgRoW]
#7832770 - 01/04/08 05:15 PM (16 years, 28 days ago) |
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Some quotes from the article:
"An old hallucinogenic drug is growing in popularity with young people and causing concerns for health and law enforcement officials."
Oh my god, young ppl are using it and it's getting more popular. One day there will be a dumb kid mixing it with alcohol, xtc and whatever they can get their hands on. Then the kid freaks out.. guess who they will blame?
"Some abusers also indicate that long-term abuse can cause ... 'flashbacks.' Some others report that the drug caused them to become introverted and sometimes unable to communicate clearly."
Note the word 'abusers'. As if you can't 'use' it, iow handle it in responsible way. F**k the DEA!
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fuckusernames
Stranger

Registered: 10/09/07
Posts: 34
Last seen: 15 years, 10 months
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Re: Use of Salvia growing as recreational drug [Re: Nebula]
#7833569 - 01/04/08 08:59 PM (16 years, 28 days ago) |
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ive never really had an experience with salvia that made me want to get my own. ive tried it with a few of my friends before but i dont know, i just dont like it.
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fastfred
Old Hand



Registered: 05/17/04
Posts: 6,899
Loc: Dark side of the moon
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Re: Use of Salvia growing as recreational drug [Re: LoWgRoW]
#7833624 - 01/04/08 09:10 PM (16 years, 28 days ago) |
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Quote:
LoWgRoW said: I never tried it, don't know anyone who has. Is it that intense? "a brief but intense hallucinogenic state that often lasts only 15 minutes or less" or is it the media playing it up?
I know it will be illegal soon. That I do know.
Yes, it can be that intense and it is that quick. It can be kind of shitty or it can be just like an awesome full blown mushroom trip for awhile.
I highly suggest trying it a couple times and learning what it has to offer before it becomes illegal. It's safe and effective, so there's no reason not to try it.
-FF
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LoWgRoW
Strange



Registered: 09/22/07
Posts: 296
Last seen: 6 years, 11 months
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Re: Use of Salvia growing as recreational drug [Re: fastfred]
#7835942 - 01/05/08 02:51 PM (16 years, 27 days ago) |
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Thanks Fastfred, I'll try to get a cutting. I love horticulture so it will thrive with the rest of the house plants.
-------------------- Avoid negative people.
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fastfred
Old Hand



Registered: 05/17/04
Posts: 6,899
Loc: Dark side of the moon
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Re: Use of Salvia growing as recreational drug [Re: LoWgRoW]
#7838406 - 01/06/08 07:51 AM (16 years, 26 days ago) |
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Salvia is pretty cool to grow. It roots and sprouts from every node and will grow up towards the light or fall over and run along the ground throwing up shoots along it's stem. It has a square stem with a round hollow center. Kind of an interesting design. Haven't see it flower yet, but I neglect them quite badly.
-FF
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