Garden Detective

Salvia does not produce anything close to an hour long high. Get your facts straight before posting nonsense

I didn't mean to sound rude, but i've never heard of the effects lasting up to an hour. It can, however, be extremely potent.

for real..pot is much better

the high last about 3 to 5 min soo

I don't understand why journalist publish this information, with pictures, no less, so that those young impressionable teens learn yet another way to get high...thanks for the info, thanks for imforming the public what to smoke, drink and eat to get high...Where do you draw the line for be enablers????

Not only does it not last an hour... but I'm pretty sure it is also illegal to buy or sell in New York State. Not sure about posession.

Research, it's what you're paid to do.

it's like a 3-5 minute trip

"It sounds ridiculous to outlaw a plant, but the dilemma is a big one: People get the impression that whatever is legal is safe. Kids especially. And therein lies the problem: It's dangerous."

I find it more dangerous to outlaw a plant because we'd like to allow the kids to believe that laws limiting our freedom should be enacted as the illusion of safety is an unhealthy compromise. It also points to the farce of government and tyranny by majority.

If you are forced to be safe, are you? Do children own their own destiny? Stop the lies instead of rallying behind the mutation of justification.

Why do we hide the truth from our children when the truth can set them free from the chains of ignorance? Safety in ignorance, I think not.

This is true, salvia, when taken in LARGE doses, sublingually (generally by chewing the leaf for extended periods of time) does last an hour at the very most, but it is rare. Instead it is more often smoked. Smoking produces a 10-20 minute maximum intoxication period. "Kids" did not stumble upon this "drug" one day in an attempt to get high, it holds respectable roots in many Mexican shamanistic rituals. Furthermore, when used responsibly, this herb is very safe (aside from the obvious temporary minor lung damage one must be in a safe and comfortable enviornment with an alert "sitter" to make ensure the person remains calm), and comparing it to marijuana shows your obvious lack of knowlege on the subject. Unlike marijuana, salvia divinorum is more of a introspective and intense experience, instead of a laid-back and giggly one. In fact, it acts on a totally different part of the brain than any illicit drug, including marijuana. Since the experience is so intense, every user I have ever spoke to chooses to remain an occasional user. The experience itself tends to lack superficial "pleasure" unlike every other illicit drug out there. Instead, the experience, depending on dose, is generally comprised of profound realization about oneself or one's enviornment, an increased feeling of reverence towards nature, and empathetic feelings. Because the salvia user's enviornment is so durastically changed, it is a substance that is rarely used at parties, and is much more common to be used in a relaxed enviornment where the grounds for self exploration are fertile. In regards to the suicide of that boy in Delaware, no substance makes the user commit suicide. This would be just as ignorant as blaming a distillery for the suicide of a man who was already depressed and drank a fifth of hard liquor. Yet, alcohol is still legal, and there is no mass legislation movement to outlaw it. In conclusion, get your facts straight, and don't take a stance on something you obviously know nothing about.

There are many types of salvia plants.... You are wrong.. The plants grown in the typical garden will not get you high... Savoritn A is the main active ingredient in salvia divinorum..... Its rare and very hard to grow...

REPLY: Hey, Carl. Read again -- I never said the salvia we grow in our gardnes have an intoxicating effect. They don't.
-- Jessica

I love how I'm being criticized for posting this information and "enabling" kids who want to try drugs -- and at the same time I'm being criticized for coming out against the use of drugs. I know you can't please everyone, but this is really funny.

Stumbled? Salvia is a Mayan tradition used for centuries.

This is a bunch of crap!!! What about the affects of alcohol? WAY worse than this or marijuana!!! FACT!

Thanks for teaching me a new way to get high... and you gave me a pic of the plant too (So I know what i'm looking for)!! Newsday is the greatest!!

"It sounds ridiculous to outlaw a plant..." It IS ridiculous to outlaw a plant!

You aren't "being criticized for coming out against the use of drugs," you're being criticized for writing an article on a topic of which you obviously only have surface knowledge. The criticisms may seem a bit harsh; I'm sure your only intention was to write a cute article about how the plants in people's gardens are related to psychoactive plants NOT found in people's gardens. But people don't like being deceived, and whether it's intentional or not (I'm sure not), that's what you are doing. The fact that plants can be outlawed is ridiculous, as you pointed out. Not to mention very sad. The reason plants are sometimes outlawed is because they are misunderstood and misused. The reason they are misunderstood and misused is because false information is spread about them.

Salvia divinorum is not dangerous when used responsibly. Your teenagers are much more likely to be hurt by prescription drugs. If you want to know some truths about Salvia divinorum, the Anon commenter at 01:30 gave a nice description. ...or you could use Google. Too many important plants have been outlawed because they are misunderstood. Hopefully no more will be.

i think your doing a wonderfull job at letting people know the potential effects of the "drug" but i think the best part is that the people here seem to have tried it and must know what they are talking about, my opinion is a drug is a drug no matter what or how you look at is saliva, mary jane, hell just about everything as far as beer and cocaine and various other drugs come from plants im sure there is going to be more to come. angel trumoets are now illegal where im from and have been banned in local do it your self stores so like i said there are more to come and once again good job jessica

what ever happened to the poppy ???????????????????????????

As an individual who has experienced two very contrasting experiences with Salvia, I feel inclined to include my opinion on this interesting, but certainly powerful drug. My introduction with Salvia divinorum was a very harrowing experience which stemmed from a mix of smoking it and alcohol. While many will claim stupidity on my part, it deserves to be part of the discussion because legal or not, drug abuse will occur just as it does with any other plant or substance.

My "bad trip" came on from taking 4-5 hits of Salvia from a water pipe after 7-8 beers. The experience that followed and lasted long into the night can only be described as ultimate terror in which I locked myself in a room turned off the lights and refused to let anyone in to help me. My other experience (didn't learn my lesson) went well and only lasted as long as we smoked the plant. However, I, as well as many friends who have had varying experiences, no longer have any desire to use the tremendously unpredictable plant.

Although it is clear that Salvia is rising in popularity in certain places, I would argue that it is still relatively unknown and it's makeup doesn't seem to include addictive properties. So the biggest question I have is: will outlawing it increase its popularity?

I am constantly disturbed by the messages portrayed by the media regarding Salvia Divinorum. Why does everyone assume this drug should be outlawed? Is it not possible that scare tactics are being used in order for the DEA to have the power to say yet another natural plant that has intoxicating effects should be banned? The federal government has yet to schedule Salvia Divinorum as a controlled substance because of lack of evidence. Why then do so many journalists automatically consider the plant so dangerous? The typical message given by the media is that we, as Americans, should automatically give up what is now our legal right in most states to enjoy Salvia Divinorum.
The common conception of the public is bewilderment that a hallucinogen is legal. Salvia Divinorum is not the only legal hallucinogen. Nutmeg is a psychotropic substance, but no one is trying to outlaw eggnog. Jimsonweed is an extremely poisonous plant that grows wild across the world. It is also legal. Does that mean we should let the DEA check our backyards periodically?
I am not saying that there should be no laws concerning Salvia Divinorum. I understand that using this drug while driving should be illegal. What I do not understand is how the talking heads on the nightly news give each other incredulous glances when reporting on the legality of Salvia Divinorum. Is it wise to join in the crusade against a naturally occuring plant? Is it even the media's place to have an opinion on the matter? CNN and Foxnews have actually managed to report on Salvia Divinorum in a nonbiased fashion. I would be grateful if every smaller news agency would all follow their lead.
Salvia has been in the United States a long time. While it may be true that it is growing in popularity here now, with more users than ever before, is it really causing any problems?
I am totally aware of the unfortunate suicide of a Delaware teen named Brett Chidester. I am highly skeptical that his death was caused in any way by his use of Salvia Divinorum, as per the chief medical examiner on the case. She has since refused to comment on how she reached this decision. I am glad I do not have her job, because I thought reading minds was impossible. Is there really any way to tell what would make somebody do that? Even if someone was to blame Salvia in a suicide note (which Brett did not), is it proof of cause of death? If you were to ask a drug addict (many of whom have attempted suicide) what the root of his problems are, you would probably be surprised that they would not blame drugs for their problems, but actually their own inability to cope with life on life's terms.
I believe that the emergance of this mysterious plant comes at the perfect time to examine the current state of the war on drugs. The United States has per capita more adults incarcerated than any other country in the world. Could it be that we are locking up too many nonviolent criminals? Many want to outlaw this plant so their children can be protected. With the popularity of Salvia Divinorum on the rise among the youth, the plant itself is being outlawed state to state. Do we really want to risk our childrens' freedom because they may have found a new way to enjoy themselves?
We do not give the youth enough credit to make smart decisions. Of coarse there are always going to be a few bad apples, but each individual is ultimately responsible for his own actions. The kids who put their Salvia experiences on You Tube because of their own desire to look foolish on a national stage are not the best representation of the majority of Salvia users. Most people who enjoy Salvia Divinorum understand the meditational value of this special plant. I understand that some drug users do not use drugs responsibly. However, Salvia Divinorum is its own deterant from irresponsible users. That is why most people who have used it only used it once. As far as driving while under the influence of Salvia Divinorum, anyone who has tried this drug absolutely would not do it. It is that different from alcohol. Time would be better spent worrying that a new fad of driving while blindfolded may be taking hold in the youth. Sounds ludacrous? Such is the case with worrying about the population driving under the influence of Salvia Divinorum. It is not going to ever be a concern.
In our "holier than thou" society, lawmakers constantly feel the need to protect us from ourselves, and I do not appreciate the gesture. I do not want to be told that I should not use Salvia Divinorum by someone who knows nothing about it. I am also not happy that my tax dollars pay the salaries of politicians who think this is an important issue. Different bills should formed to regulate more dangerous manmade chemicals that get approved by the FDA after minimal studies. Every year, new mood-stabilizers are released. I do not believe proper tests are ever done by pharmecuetical companies when the prospect of a sizable profit comes with every new drug.
Is the war on drugs really any more successful than the prohibition of alcohol was? We have the chance to move into a bright, new day here. Outlawing this plant is not only unnecesary, it could prove to be a detrimental mistake.
Salvia Divinorum is a hot topic in the field of mental health research. It has been suggested that a substance able to block Salvinorin A from the brain receptor it affects is a likely candidate to be a breakthrough drug for Alzeimer's and schizophrenia. It has also been stated on several websites from various users that Salvia Divinorum dissipates opiate cravings. What will happen to the research if Salvia Divinorum is scheduled as a controlled substance?
Sincerely,
Andrew Rawlins
Huntsville, AL

I notice that Jessica is white. That figures.

Perhaps she fears the mexican shaman will step on her shadow, and tempt her with the voodoo music of Cab Calloway.

RESPONSE: You got me. I've long had a Cab Calloway phobia.

Can someone have a valid opinion on a substance in which they have never used?

I tried it many years ago, when I was a lot more reckless. I read so much stuff about it. I ordered it and it came in in a bag and looked like chopped up dark brown cotton. Did not look like a plant at all. And certainly did not look like a leaf. But it was. I prepared myself before hand by calling a friend and told him what I was about to do. And to call me in about 30 minutes if I don't call him. I was actually afraid. I was not afraid when I tried a lot of other way more dangerous stuff. But for this, I have to admit it. I never prepared my surroundings for anything before. I began to smoke it. It was not pleasant at all. But I continued. Maybe 6 or 7 puffs. I sat back and waited. I did not know what was going to happen. I read so many stories, some great, but some downright scary. So, brave and unmoved at first, definitely scared as I lit it for the first time. I began to feel a funny feeling in my hands. But no high. None. Zip. Zero. SO I lit another pipe. I got braver. Now I wanted to just get a little something so I could guage it and do the right amount next time. I finished the 2nd bowl and still nothing. I sat there wondering what all the fuss was about. I waited so long. Anticipated the mail each day. Wow. Ring! Ring! My phone rang. I then remembered my friend so I knew it was him. As I thought about answering the (before I actually moved, a split second thought) I thought; "What a waste. Now I gotta tell him how dumb all this was?" But I was not moving. Those split second thoughts turned into a well formed fantasy going on in my head about gettting up and answering the phone. But i was not moving. I immedietely, consciously tried to move now and I could not. So I basically threw myself to my left to make me move, laughing at myself, but not high in any way shape or form. I found myself laying awkwardly accross my couch. I was paralized. I thought hard about my finger and tried to move it. Nothing. What the f %#@. Did I just blow it. Is this real. Am I really paralized? I tried everything. But it was all in my mind because, although completely conscious and self aware, I was still sprawled accross my couch. I just was there, imobile, afraid of this consequence, but logically working out the details that got me to this point and feeling this was not permanent. It happened right after I did this, so it definitely was the result of this herb, I thought. But I did not lose conscious so I did not have a stroke. This would pass. So I waited. Motionless. Laughing at times, but really just waiting for it to end. About 15 minutes in, I felt my hands tingle. I reasoned that this was the effect subsiding and I just tried to rememebr everything about it. I was constantly thinking. And soon I felt the tingle go up my arm and then the hands were moving fine, then the arms and then I was fine. About 20 minutes later. And thought "Wow, what a trip ... without actually taking one (drugwise I mean). I completely understood the feelings of paralization. At least to me. I have never done it again. Not because I was afraid but because it was not fun. It might have been funny. It just was not fun. I stared at that small pillow of herb for years. I did not throw it out because I thought I would do it again. I just never wanted to. I don't remember throwing it out, but it's not here so it must have been lost in the move (I moved twice since then). No loss. It was a downer. Not the drug downer. The emotion and the effects were just not a good feeling. A waste of money and time. This is the first time I ever wrote about it. I wonder if that was a common theme but I never read anything like that about it so I don't know. But that's what happened.

As usual the government steps in and directs you to use things that are man made and KNOWN to cause liver damage and kill other people when that person that is using that product gets behind the wheel. I'm not a religious person but here's an old quote from some who are and dabbled in the lighter side ;-) "God made grass, Man made alcohol, who do you trust?" On top of that exactly HOW MANY people were ever killed by someone smoking pot and getting behind the wheel?? Plus with just the little research that I've done this particular plant has been used for at least the last 500 if not several thousand years by native american and mexican shamans. But I'm sure that if left to the AMERICAN government that they will come up with ALL KINDS of excuses why we shouldn't do this and how much damage it can do.