Salvia Divinorum - The Law

The Law

As of 2005, there are no federal laws in the United States that regulate or outlaw the possession or use of Salvia divinorum. In Mexico, California, and Hawaii, it is grown and sold. Its legal status is probably one of the main reasons that it has gained some popularity as a recreational psychedelic drugThe ability to produce hallucinations or other altered mental states.. Information about the plant has spread widely by way of the Internet, and is the subject of various Web sites. Many different types of people have sampled it to find out firsthand about its herbal healing properties, its supposed benefits as a meditation aid, or its psychotropic qualities.

In 2004, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) stated that, in general, there is growing interest among young people about plants that bring on hallucinations and apparently mystical experiences. According to the DEA, Salvia divinorum is most commonly smoked in order to bring on hallucinations similar to those caused by THC, the active ingredient in the hemp or marijuana plant (cannabis sativa).

On June 1, 2002, Australia became the first country to issue a ban on Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A. Bills have been introduced in the U.S. Congress suggesting that these substances be banned, but none have yet been passed. The DEA is aware of Salvia divinorum and monitors its growing availability and increasing use.