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Salvia: The Legal High Save Email Print
Posted: 11:26 PM Feb 20, 2008
Last Updated: 3:13 PM Feb 21, 2008
Reporter: Beth Shayne
Email Address: beth.shayne@wilx.com

A | A | A

"It burnt my throat....and then I just went numb in my whole body....so numb I lost control of my jaw," Jarrod Stoddard says of his one and only trip with Salvia almost six years ago.

"I hated it," Stoddard says. The now 20 year old, who works here behind the scenes on our newscast, was sure immediately he'd never to try Salvia again.

Salvia Divinorum is a leaf from the sage family that creates a quick, intense hallucinogenic high. Users compare it to LSD.

It is legal--so legal that Frivolity Kingdom where you can buy it on Lansing Ave. in Jackson advertises Salvia outside. It is also sold at several other locations in the area. Frivolity Kingdom's owner Greg Somervill says he does not sell to people under 18, but that the spectrum of who buys it is wide. Salvia Divinorum is generally fairly weak, which is why what most people buy is an extract that is much stronger.

"One of my friends was talking about how he and his brother found this new stuff called Salvia," Stockbridge high school sophomore Cody Allred tells us. He and many of his friends from a group called Explorers tell us they know people who have tried it. Many of them are under 18.

The Explorers, Waterloo Post 190, are a group that's preparing for careers in law enforcement and their group is, for the time being, involved with law creation too. They brought their concerns to Rep. Mike Simpson, D-Liberty Township, who is now having legislation drafted to address it.

"At the very least, we want this listed as a controlled substance, but ideally we want this banned from the state of Michigan," Simpson says.

Simpson calls it dangerous, and Somervill, owner of Frivolity Kingdom, doesn't disagree. He says the high is quick, and the herb is non-addictive, but he says many of his customers abuse it. Why is he selling it? He says media reports are only making it more popular. "Supply and demand," Somervill says.

Salvia Divinorum is already banned in 6 states and 10 countries.

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Posted by: Mephesto Location: Jackson on Mar 19, 2009 at 01:12 PM
great...now local news is blowing all this out of proportion...but I agree with ole Greg though...if people are being stupid with it there needs to at least be limitations but a ban is ridiculous...it's all about moderation people DON'T BE STUPID!

Posted by: Darren Location: McCarroll on Dec 2, 2008 at 04:27 PM
Where can I buy salvia in Warren, Michigan area retail stores?

Posted by: Benjamin Location: Michigan on Nov 17, 2008 at 10:09 PM
I have started a forum for the people of Michigan to learn more about Salvia divinorum. It's at www.MichiganSalvia.com and also has the current legal status

Posted by: Corey Location: Michigan on Sep 29, 2008 at 11:31 AM
If your looking for salvia in michigan, i got some from stairway to heaven in ann arbor michigan. You must be 18 to buy. Its an nice alternative drug if your on probation

Posted by: lawrence worstaff Location: mn. 56461 on Jul 29, 2008 at 06:10 AM
i need to know weather there is a ban or if salvia is controlled in the state of minnisota, any info would be helpfull. Thanx

Posted by: Mike Location: East Lansing on Jul 10, 2008 at 12:30 PM
It's ridiculous that they are considering banning something with no known ill effects. It's nothing like LSD, and lasts only minutes compared to hours. Ridiculous. I run a list of states that currently have Salvia legal and it's getting harder and harder to maintain. Ugh.

Posted by: Lena T. Location: Lansing, MI on Apr 14, 2008 at 12:10 PM
I love it, the illiterate asses out here in Lansing, got it taken away from the only store I knew of that sold it. I am on a search to find.

Posted by: Joshua Location: CA on Feb 29, 2008 at 03:52 PM
In CA we just passed a ban on sales to minors. This is the best way to keep salvia out of the hands of those most likely to abuse this plant. Outright ban means another black market source of income for cartels & LESS ability to control its potential detrimental effects by law enforcement. This would also give the zealots who are pushing this ban trying to appear 'tough on drugs' a compromise. Everything we know about salvia suggests that an adult who takes the proper common-sense precautions (sober sitter, doesnt drive)will have a safe experience.Criminalizing such behavior has led to a failed war on drugs, and many instances where the punishment is far more dangerous than the crime. Having been a victim of a paramilitary raid on our house bc of a false-informant who lied to police claiming we had 'kilos' of marijuana, I know what a barbarous policy prohibition is. A govt serious about drug abuse would do more to educate, address underlying causes & seek to rehabilitate,not incarcerate

Posted by: Kyle Location: Iraq on Feb 26, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Salvia Divinorum is a quick way to get a legal high. the side effects vary. ive tried it a number of times and havent had a "bad" experience with it, just a temporary high body temperature and some uncontrollable laughter. however, it is a drug, and should be scheduled as such. i dont agree with the way it is used, however just like any other hallucinogenic, if you ban one, a new one will show up. it tastes nasty, and smells worse. the effects are very short lived (usually between 10-15 minutes at the most). its not wise to do by yourself, but i think alot of people overstate the effects. its usage was started with indians (of varying cultures) using it to get a closer connection with the spirits and just to get that out of body experience (which, unfortunately works). its not as bad as alot of the other drugs available, but the effects can hang with the best of anything you can find illegaly. i agree on the reclassification, but not with the ban

Posted by: G Location: Lansing on Feb 24, 2008 at 05:54 PM
Its been around for years. When recent medical research suggested that it could be used in substance abuse and alcohol treatment, there was a big push to ban it. Sak's one of the bill's sponsers, and he gets his money mostly from the alcohol lobby. Its that way in every state. The drug has also shown great promise in the treatment of Alzheimers and Schizophrenia. This drug isnt addictive, isnt toxic and isnt fun. There's simply no reason to criminalize this drug and throw out 10 years of medical research.

Posted by: Svedge Location: Norway on Feb 24, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Too bad! MOST users will NEVER compare Salvia to LSD or mushrooms, there are just too many differences to compare.

Posted by: Kristyn Location: school on Feb 22, 2008 at 08:30 AM
Wow i'm o it! Ban salvia!

Posted by: d Location: el on Feb 21, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Yes. Ban another plant. God obviously made a mistake when he created these. We know better than God what is good for us! Funny but true story: we grew salvia divninium in my Kindergarten class as a science project.

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  • Posted By: BarbaraI'm surprised by the news media who are shocked that he died after having passed a physical. There are instances of people having heart attacks as they leave the doctors office, have been given a good bill of health. Some coverage of the event seems appropriate but now I am ready for it to stop. Ok I wasn't a fan. Never was. But enough is enough. There is other news out there. There were other deaths of famous people that week, alot in fact. They got a notice in the news and that was appropriate. Yes was more controversial as was Elvis and yes they both got more time, but it bothers me that all of the national coverage that night was of his death as if there wasn't a war or other news of note.
  • Posted By: Entertaiment BigotSorry Becky if we busted his chops but I'm one of those Hollywood Bigots. I do not idolize anyone in the entertainment business more than I would my own Parents. So I can truly say he never had an impact on me. It is our culture and media that seems who decide who we should idolize and I'm sorry but I don't buy into that mentality. I didn't cry over Elvis and I'm not shedding a tear for Mr. Jackson. I didn't cry over Lady Di. To say he reached everyone in the world may be true but that doesn't make me a bigot just because I don't idolize or mourn him.
  • Posted By: BeckyI feel that you are all insenstive bigots. Excuse the past years...you have to look at what this man meant to the country as a whole. When is the last time you heard of an artist that reached damn near everyone in the WORLD regardless of their race? Elvis didn't even have that much of an impact. He is a human and has his mistakes. Only God can judge him and to say such nasty things about this man after his passings is plain disgusting.
  • Posted By: blablaOk he's dead, now can we read some real news
  • Posted By: jonI just wonder where is michael now?
  • Posted By: sandyBill, your right not Farrah or Ed but a pedophile, his attorneys will be looking for new jobs now cant live off mike now.
  • Posted By: BillWhat GREAT comments and all so true. How anyone can worship a pedophile is beyond me. To bad about Farrah, but you sure don't hear anything about her.
  • Posted By: BillToo bad so sad, NOT. Children of L.A, can now sleep easier. The courts don't have to waste money on him anymore and his so called friends will have to find someone else they can be a leach to. I remember when their show first appeared and it was fun to watch. But as time goes by the fame has destroyed him as well as all the damage he has done to his own body for no reason but to be wanted even more by the public. His attorney summed it up great.
  • Posted By: King of WarpOk, the immediate response is I'm shocked. Only the media and elite will sensationalize a story to make the guy out to be somebody to be worshipped. Everyone is now over Princess Di. So, pay your respects, honor his talent and keep the other crap out of the news. We don't need to hear over and over again about his drug use, child molestation problems. Good-Bye Michael Jackson now "Beat It"
  • Posted By: MarkThis is pathetic. Call me a dork, or a hater, or whatever, but this is seriously ridiculous. Yeah, an influential musician is dead at a young age. But do half of the headlines on this page have to be about Michael Jackson? There are four on here about him out of 8 listed.
  • Posted By: CarrieBS! I don't buy into this "sadness" stuff. I think we have a bunch of band-wagon jumpers!! Michael was a HUGE part of my generation's world (growing up in the 80s) and every chick LOVED him so from that sense, ok...it is weird to see him gone. BUT....he was a "has been" through the recent years (since like the mid 90s?) and so many people did NOT like him because of his life-style and mannerisms, etc. Notice his upcoming tour was in a whole other COUNTRY because he wouldn't make it here. But yet, all of a sudden, he is LOVED by all? GIVE ME A BREAK! I am NOT buying it. BAND-WAGON jumpers. Spare me.
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