Senator Therriault Moves to Outlaw Dangerous Hallucinogenic Drug
SB 313 Bans ''Sally D''
Released: April 5, 2006
(Juneau) - Sen. Gene Therriault (R-North Pole) introduced legislation today through the Senate State Affairs Committee to ban the hallucinogen Salvia Divinorum.
Known as "Sally D" on the street, Salvia Divinorum is part of the Lamiaceae family of plants. It is grown primarily in Mexico and can be shipped or sold over the counter to anyone 18 years or older. The plant leaves, which look much like marijuana, can be eaten or smoked.
Salvia causes unpredictable physiological and psychological effects and erratic behavior in the user. Delaware has recently acted on what is being called Brett's Law after a promising young man who used the drug-committed suicide.
"Even the buyers and sellers of this substance urge great caution with its use, and yet our young people can order it with just the click of a mouse," Sen. Therriault said.
The website for educating teens about drugs (www.intheknowzone.com) explains the drug ingested by the Mazatec Indians in the mountains of Mexico to induce visions is now being used in the United States recreationally. The website cautions that "many are getting hurt" and warns that "Head shops that hype the benefits of Salvia are not telling the whole story. Depression and schizophrenia are also real risks of Salvia abuse."
Sen. Therriault introduced SB 313 through the committee he chairs because the deadline for personal legislation has passed.
"I am confident that my colleagues will support placing this drug in the same illegal category as mescaline and peyote. That is where this highly toxic substance, now banned in over ten major countries and two other states, definitely belongs," Therriault said.
SB 313 was referred to the Senate Health, Education & Social Services and Judiciary committees.
For more information, contact Dave Stancliff at (907) 465.4797.
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http://www.akrepublicans.org/therriault/24/news/ther2006040501p.php