Monday, May 05, 2008

Salvia Ban Unlikely to Pass

Time running out to ban hallucinogenic plant in
Alabama


MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Tuesday is the deadline for
Alabama legislators to decide whether they are going
to ban the sale of a mind-altering plant in Alabama.

Two bills to outlaw the plan — Salvia divinorum — are
awaiting a vote in the Senate. But Tuesday is the last
day for the bills to pass in the nearly completed 2008
legislative session.

Nine states have already banned this form of salvia or
restricted its sale. One Senate sponsor, Hank Erwin,
says the chances of passing his bill Tuesday are slim.


Now if only Hank's chances of being re-elected were slim we'd have it made. As I have said before Alabama already has more than enough people in jail for use of natural plants and if these boneheads in Montgomery insist on banning 'problem plants' then they should focus on kudzu, privet, poison oak and poison ivy...for starters.

In fact, I will now be on the hunt for a brave legislator willing to introduce a bill that would mandate the creation and funding of a KUDZU TASK FORCE.

(H/T to Brandon Wynn)


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7 comments:

P Papa Diddy Pop said...

Have you heard anything about the fate of this bill? Interesting how the AP runs a story about how there's little time to ban the plant and then doesn't follow up on the story. By the way, the AP story in February about salvia has done wonders for the industry. More people than ever are trying salvia due to headlines such as "Salvia: The Next Marijuana." The cat is out of the bag that's for sure.

Loretta Nall said...

I haven't heard a thing about SB8 or SB15. They have not been put on the Senate Judiciary cmte calendar. That's a little tricky though because often the Senate Judiciary calendar isn't updated until the day of the committee meeting making it very difficult to counter any action they may take.

"Salvia: The Next Marijuana" sounds just like "BC BUD: The Crack of Marijuana" It's excellent free advertising.

The thing with Salvia is that most people find it very unpleasant. It isn't something teens would be likely to enjoy very much much less abuse.

Loretta Nall said...

I just checked the status on SB15 and it says that it was carried over to call of the chair on 4/30.

It isn't on either the house or senate judiciary calendar today.

P Papa Diddy Pop said...

Interesting. Thanks a bunch and keep fighting the good fight!

P Papa Diddy Pop said...

From the AP:

Some other dead bills would have repealed Alabama's ban on the sale of sex toys and banned the mind-altering plant salvia divinorum.

...

Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, tried for the fifth year to repeal Alabama's ban on the sale of sex toys, but he couldn't get the House to take action on his proposal.

"The same sponsor, and the same dead bill," said Sherri Williams, who operates Pleasures adult shops in Huntsville and Decatur.

Alabama's ban on the sale of sex toys withstood a legal challenge by Williams. But adult stores are still able to sell vibrators and similar products because Alabama's law allows an exception for people who say they are making purchases for medical reasons.

Sens. Hank Erwin, R-Montevallo, and Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, sponsored bills to apply Alabama's marijuana laws to an increasingly popular hallucinogenic plant called Salvia divinorum. Bedford's bill never got on the Senate's work agenda. Erwin's did, but ran into stalling tactics for the same reason as Denton's bill.

Erwin, who was pushing the bill for the second year, said he will try again next year because people of any age can legally buy salvia in Alabama.

Loretta Nall said...

The salvia bill is dead for this session along with hundreds of other bills.

P Papa Diddy Pop said...

I saw today where Florida Gov. Crist signed a bill outlawing salvia making it a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-cristbills2908may29,0,1493842.story

Another state down, nobody any safer.

Assuming McCain gets elected president and picks Crist for his VP, which has been discussed, he would likely favor making it illegal on the national level if presented with such an idea.

I can't understand why all the children in the U.S. aren't totally addicted to Nyquil, Robitussin and Coricidin - it's legal ... might as well ban those "for the children" as well.