INDIANAPOLIS — Concerns about a hallucinogenic drug that currently is not illegal in Indiana have led a local state legislator to propose adoption of a law prohibiting it.
State Rep. Suzanne Crouch is introducing a bill that would outlaw the possession or sale of salvia divinorum.
A plant related to sage that grows in the mountains of Mexico, salvia divinorum can induce hallucinations if chewed or ingested. Unlike with LSD, a man-made chemical whose effects can last for hours, hallucinations induced by the salvia divinorum plant typically last only minutes.
Under current law, salvia divinorum is not illegal in Indiana and can be sold legally as an herbal extract at the retail level. A number of online retailers market it as incense, not for human consumption. But concerns that minors could obtain salvia divinorum and use it to induce a legal "high" have led several other states, including Illinois, to ban it.
Botanists classify salvia divinorum as an entirely different plant species than the common garden sage, salvia officinalis, or the aromatic flower salvia judaica, neither of which induce hallucinations.
Crouch, R-Evansville, wants Indiana law rewritten to declare salvia divinorum a Schedule 1 controlled substance. LSD and other illegal drugs that have no medically accepted use already are classified that way.
"The fact it has that kind of (hallucinogenic) reaction and is not illegal certainly caused me to look at it seriously," Crouch said.
Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams said his deputies have not yet seen salvia divinorum sold here or encountered suspects under its influence. But from what he has gathered from law enforcement agencies in other states, salvia divinorum can "potentially alter (users') frame of reference and conscious self to the point where they are not thinking clearly, and will do things they would ordinarily not do," Williams said.
Williams supports Crouch's legislation. In light of other states prohibiting salvia divinorum, Indiana does not want to become the last place where it remains legal, he said.
"Because of our location in Southwest Indiana, we are a stone's throw away from Kentucky and a bike ride away from Illinois. If it's illegal there and legal here, you would have people from Kentucky and Illinois coming here (to obtain it) because Indiana is a safe haven," Williams said.
Crouch's proposal would make the manufacture, sale or possession with intent to deliver salvia a Class B felony, carrying a potential penalty of six to 20 years.
As introduced by Crouch, the offense would be a Class A felony if the delivery or sale of salvia divinorum were to someone under age 18, on a school bus or within 1,000 feet of school property, a park, family housing complex or youth program center. A conviction for a Class A felony would carry a 20- to 50-year sentence. The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee.
Crouch and Williams described the legislation as a preventive measure.
"We will always have people who want to test the system and would create a black market for it, just like with any other drug," Williams said. "If nobody is demanding it, the supply will go away."
With its mind-altering properties, salvia divinorum was used in ritual ceremonies for centuries by Mexico's indigenous peoples.
In the late 1990s, it emerged in the U.S. as a potential recreational drug, according to published reports.
"It's just becoming a phenomenon people are becoming aware of," Crouch said.
Link: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/jan/13/crouch-targets-hallucinogenic-drug/
More info from Chemy (originally from Crouchs bio on wikipedia):
Alcohol
Alcohol related financial contributions featured highly for Representative Suzanne Crouch's 2006 political campaign. According to the National Institute on Money in State Politics, 'Beer, Wine & Liquor' was her eighth highest industry contributor.
Salvia:
On January 13, 2008 it was reported that State Representative Suzanne Crouch was proposing a bill that wants Indiana law rewritten to declare the psychoactive herb Salvia divinorum a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Crouch's proposal would make the manufacture, sale or possession with intent to deliver salvia a Class B felony, carrying a potential penalty of six to 20 years. The offense would be a Class A felony if the delivery or sale of Salvia divinorum were to someone under age 18, on a school bus or within 1,000 feet of school property, a park, family housing complex or youth program center. A conviction for a Class A felony would carry a 20- to 50-year sentence. The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee.[1]
Crouch was reported as saying - "The fact it has that kind of (hallucinogenic) reaction and is not illegal certainly caused me to look at it seriously".
An online poll was conducted in connection with Indianapolis news channel's stories earlier in November 2007, asking the question - "Do you believe Indiana should regulate Salvia divinorum?"[2] A majority of 76% of the polls respondents were opposed to outright prohibition (59% preferring age regulations, and 17% no restrictions at all).
Opponents of extremely prohibitive Salvia restrictions argue that such reactions are largely due to an inherent prejudice and a particular cultural bias rather than any actual balance of evidence, pointing out inconsistencies in attitudes toward other more toxic and addictive drugs such as alcohol and nicotine.[3] While not objecting to some form of regulatory legal control, in particular with regard to the sale to minors or sale of enhanced high-strength extracts, most Salvia proponents otherwise argue against stricter legislation.
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Indiana residents, now is the time to call Rep. Crouch's office and ask her to end her foolish and counterproductive proposal.
Her office number is (812) 867-6964
If you know anyone in Indiana who is interested in plants or drug law reform, send them this message.
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