Salvia Bill is Back

Senator Hank ('Katrina was punishment from God for the sinfulness of New Orleans') Erwin has pre-filed a bill to outlaw Salvia and make it a Schedule 1 on the controlled substance list.

Here is the text of the bill

I feel the same way I did last year when Senator Erwin filed this bill.

As soon as this bill is scheduled in committee I will let everyone know. Get busy writing letters to be sent out when this bill comes down. It must die!

Salvia Letter in Cullman Times

My letter opposing the banning of Salvia appeared in today's Cullman Times


LETTER: Why ban salvia?

In response to 'Magic Mint' (The Cullman Times, June 23, 2008) I disagree that salvia needs to be banned and made a felony offense. If, as the headline implies, legislators know little about it then it doesn't even rise to the level of acknowledgement. Ms. Soule's attempt to make it illegal and apply the same penalties currently imposed on non-violent marijuana consumers is absolutely absurd. What — we don't have enough people in Alabama jails and prisons for use of natural plants?

This seems like a coordinated campaign nationally. My guess it is coming from the DEA. It is outrageous, since salvia is a non-problem — but maybe if they prohibit it they can change that, seeing as how prohibition of other plants and their derivatives has worked so well in the past and all.

Once Ms. Soule, in collusion with our legislative clowns, make it illegal, we will see a huge jump in its use by kids. We'll see prison imposed for possession of a geranium plant, teens and college kids saddled with felony criminal records (according to Sen. Bedford they are the main consumers), lives ruined, forced treatment, drug court and all kinds of crazy stuff that we don't see now when it is legal and not widely known all because of the raging, moralistic crusade to outlaw anything that might give someone else pleasure. What will they outlaw next, spinning around in circles until you get dizzy? That also alters ones state of consciousness.

Drug prohibition doesn't work, has never worked and will never work. If it did then our prisons would not be stuffed full of non-violent drug offenders and our high schools and college campuses wouldn't be the easiest places to get drugs. This madness has to stop. If the legislature insists on going after problem plants then might I suggest kudzu, privet and poison ivy? That would be a real no brainer.

Loretta Nail

Drug policy reform advocate and was the 2006 Libertarian candidate for Governor of Alabama.



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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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