Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Legal hallucinogen becomes hot seller

'A real trend'

Rachel Sa
National Post


Abi Roach with a display of the packets of Salvia that she sells in her store, Roach-O-Rama, in the Kensington Market area of Toronto. It is the only drug known to activate a newly discovered brain receptor.The drug activates makes people feel they have been transported to a different place and time.

A powerful, unregulated hallucinogen is growing increasingly popular in Ontario while remaining virtually unknown to police and health officials.

Salvia divinorum, a member of the mint family, originates in Oaxaca, Mexico, where it has been used in shamanism and vision quests for centuries. The leaves are chewed or smoked and are widely available on the internet.

A 14-year-old from Huntsville, Ont., said Salvia is hugely popular among his peers.

"I'd say it's a real trend," said the teen, who asked to remain anonymous.

On April 16 the teen and a friend purchased a gram-sized bag of Salvia for $40.25 from the Silver Daisy Boutique in Huntsville. The 14-year-old went to the woods behind his home to smoke the drug. The effect was instantaneous.

"As soon as I blew out the smoke ... I couldn't move," he said. "I fell and then I just went to a completely different place." The teen saw trees uproot, the world was tinged purple and tiny people pinned him to the ground.

"It was really scary," he admits. As the teen fought his imaginary captors, he repeatedly bashed his head into a rock. Thankfully, his friend cradled the teen's head, preventing serious injury until the trip ended.

Salvia is a hot seller at Toronto's Roach-O-Rama, a smoke shop in Kensington Market. Store manager Christina Yolanda said that Salvia -- and access to the shop -- is restricted to ages 18 and older.

"I can't imagine selling Salvia to a young person, even if it is legal," Ms. Yolanda said. "It's been used as a ceremonial drug to bring on heavy-duty hallucinations and a child is not used to expanding their mind that much."

Roach-o-Rama has sold Salvia for three years and Ms. Yolanda has unwritten rules for customers.

"You have to be in a safe place [to smoke it]," she said. "It's not a party drug. I advise people not to smoke it in a nightclub or anywhere public because you can lose control of your body. Someone could easily take advantage of a person who is on Salvia."

According to a 1994 study by pharmacologist Daniel Seibert, Salvia can cause users to believe they have transformed into objects, such as "yellow plaid French fries, fresh paint, a Ferris wheel, etc." On Seibert's Web site www.sagewisdom.org, he urges users to "never, ever, attempt to drive under the influence of Salvia - doing so could prove fatal!"

Salvia divinorum is illegal only in Australia. The U.S. Congress has twice tried to bring Salvia under the jurisdiction of the federal Controlled Substances Act, first in 2002 and again in 2003. Currently, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency lists Salvia as a "Drug of Concern," along with cocaine and ecstasy.

While popular in Toronto's drug culture, Salvia remains virtually unknown to authorities.

"I haven't even heard of it," said Constable Wendy Drummond of the Toronto Police. "But that's not to say it's not out there."

Because Salvia is a legal substance, the drug squad would not deal with it, she added.

Toronto Emergency Medical Service spokesman Peter Macintyre said that if EMS did pick up someone under the influence of Salvia, the paramedics would not likely know it.

"[The patient] could just be acting psychotic and we wouldn't know why," he said.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is aware of Salvia divinorum, but spokeswoman Sylvia Hagopian said it is not yet "on the radar screen for 'emerging trends.' "

Hospitals around Toronto had no records of Salvia users turning up in emergency rooms, but that is not surprising, said Dr. Bryan Roth, a professor of biochemistry at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Roth led a research team studying Salvinorin A, Salvia's active hallucinogenic compound. His studies show that the effects of Salvinorin A are brief -- lasting no more than 15 minutes -- meaning users would be unlikely to get to the hospital before the drug wore off.

"Salvinorin A is unique," said Dr. Roth. The compound activates a different brain receptor than other hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD or magic mushrooms. Salvia divinorum is the only drug known to activate this newly discovered "kappa-opioid" receptor, Dr. Roth said.

"As a result, Salvinorin A causes quite a different experience," he explained. "We have coined the term 'spatio-temporal dislocation,' because people frequently have the experience that they are transported to a different place and time. This is very different from LSD-like hallucinations."

Researchers in California are preparing to study the long-term effects of Salvia but, currently, no studies show what the plant does to the brain or the rest of the body over longer periods.

The Huntsville teen immediately told his parents of his terrifying experience with Salvia. Now, his mother wants to see sale of the drug restricted.

"These kids see that it's legal and that's misleading," she said. Merchants who sell the drug to minors are taking advantage of children, she added.

Tony Theos, manager of the Silver Daisy in Huntsville, where the teen purchased the drug, is incredulous.

"There is no age restriction on the product in general," Mr. Theos said. Only one parent, a friend of the 14-year-old's family, had called to complain about Salvia, he said.

"This woman said I was exploiting children. If I were exploiting children, I would be in jail right now."

Health Canada is currently "monitoring" Salvia divinorum, but it is not listed as a controlled substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and there are no plans to add it to the list, according to spokeswoman Nathalie Lalonde.

Despite defending the legality of the drug, Mr. Theos says Salvia is no longer available at the Silver Daisy. He stressed that the decision was made because sales dropped and not as a result from any community pressure.

"The novelty just wore off," he said, but added that the drug is still widely available at other locations in Northern Ontario.

The 14-year-old said he will not be recommending Salvia to his friends.

"I know a girl who was thinking about trying it," he said. "I told her what happened to me. I said: 'Don't even think about it. It's not cool.' "

Contact: letters@nationalpost.com

nationalpost

Of course this is a story where a 14 year old minor buys something that probablty shouldn't be sold to a minor (yes i realize its not regulated, but I think weed shouldn't be sold in shops to minors either) And then the kid goes and trips out and then narrowly avoids head trauma and goes and tells mommy and is Quoted as saying "It's a real trend". An Anonymous 14 year old, and his ever so credible quote is Pulled for the Headline.

The Shop owner who, mind you isnt the lady who is pictured, says she has her own unwritten rules for selling salvia and seems to be taking the power of salvia seriously, Is quoted saying "This woman said I was exploiting children. If I were exploiting children, I would be in jail right now." COME ON! Yeah dude, all people who exploit children are in jail. I'm not saying he exploited anyone, I'm just saying that thats a pretty ambiguous quote to be pulling out for the owner of the store.

And of course theres a great anti-drug message being delivered by the teen who so recently escaped brain trauma while in the grips of this horrible drug. "Its not Cool", spokesman for a generation. Nice job anonymous Teen.

Oh my goodness, yeah totally I agree with you regarding underage psychonauts. There perception at that age is very impressionable, intense & really scary if they decided to try any entheogens and/or halluciogens. Minds at that age are not on keel for god sakes, they shouldn't subject themselves to any mind alter drugs until they can have a stable foundation to come back to; really, it's just a youth developing into a strong minded individual that is afraid of purple trees. LOL I'm not a baby, so I don't clutch onto mommy, for instance.

It's sad because it adds another negative stigma to the already hugely bloated sterotype about psychoactives that seem to cause some type of detriment to all man kind. At least the owners should know not to sell hallucinogens to anyone under 18 years of age.

As long as the shift of gov. revenue isn't targeted toward the ERADICATION of drugs in general by augmented patrols or more severe pentalities for buying, trafficing or weight; I don't really care what goes on, because frankly, what am I to do. Spread another opinion without a rally of supporters..

Quote:

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The Shop owner who, mind you isnt the lady who is pictured, says she has her own unwritten rules for selling salvia and seems to be taking the power of salvia seriously, Is quoted saying "This woman said I was exploiting children. If I were exploiting children, I would be in jail right now." COME ON! Yeah dude, all people who exploit children are in jail. I'm not saying he exploited anyone, I'm just saying that thats a pretty ambiguous quote to be pulling out for the owner of the store.

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It's a valid statement.
(Disregarding the political scene and Big Money corporations practices.)
Your average shop owner who has attained public media scrutiny who is practicing exploitation of minors is likely looking at jail.
Or at least some form of public censure.

Quote:

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Oh my goodness, yeah totally I agree with you regarding underage psychonauts. There perception at that age is very impressionable, intense & really scary if they decided to try any entheogens and/or halluciogens. Minds at that age are not on keel for god sakes, they shouldn't subject themselves to any mind alter drugs until they can have a stable foundation to come back to; really, it's just a youth developing into a strong minded individual that is afraid of purple trees. LOL I'm not a baby, so I don't clutch onto mommy, for instance.

It's sad because it adds another negative stigma to the already hugely bloated sterotype about psychoactives that seem to cause some type of detriment to all man kind. At least the owners should know not to sell hallucinogens to anyone under 18 years of age.

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Due to some of the wording there I'm not exactly sure where AestheticQ stands on this and at any rate it is not my intent to oppose anyway.

But while the vast majority of us will rationally state that minors should be restricted in matters such as entheogens, I'm willing to bet that the vast majority of us used entheogens and might well not have the depth of vision we have today without those experiences.

Who's to say that when an adolescent is in that age where they are starting to experiment with entheogenics that it is wrong?
Why are we basing our beliefs on what the right wingnuts who control the media in ALL of the english speaking nations want?

I have to wonder if experimentation during adolescence is not something that increases limitations in rational thought.

Did my own experimentations with entheogens as a youth give me the flexability to understand the underlying nature of humankind today?
Did yours?

Even so. Is something like Salvia worse for our developing mind then caffiene?
Yet we pump our youth with it happily.

Just curious.

My initial stand until swayed by you, was I don't believe anyone under the age of 18 should be permitted to explore.. with any sort of "drug" whether illicit or parmaceutical. Because as a juvenile or adolesent many times this stage in your life can be a almost confounding time, because of the constant schooling, bombardment of keeping up with a mind that doesn't have enough stamina or emotional strenght.... to beable to juggle......... various, intense growing up-ins...... LOL hahaha Plus, the fact that with this pressure to cohere to a certain extent... with many peers & such, teens are ususally depressed & may abuse any type of narcotic or "high". A stable retrospective grounding MAY not have been established as of yet. & this use... could lead to abuse of marijuana which may lead to a dissociation or unmotivated mentality. AN INDIVDUAL IS AN INDIVIDUAL with varing factors of lifestyle, but as a law, EVERYONE has to comply with it's best intent ruling dictatorship.

This also is interdependant upon which drug they are using......... there informed proper dosage excluding marijuana. There not all the same as beer is to hard liquor or as different as caffiene. The experience & RESPONSIBLITY has to be there so no death, recklessness, injury, in practical context vandalism, theft for drugs, etc.

I believe with all laws, whether what age to get your drivers license or how old you have to be to buy liquor is dependant upon in what way a perticular isolated community is taught, brought up & what their predisposition is to be able to BRING ABOUT SUITABLE LAWS.... for as large as a country to as small as a jurisdiction.

The experiment & result.... & the proceeding talk or controversy will always exist in juvenial and the adult world until the sun doesn't come up to allow life to exist.

In the adult world emanicipation in this country called the U.S. is comfortable for many, but still an adult is an adult & I believe without proper age requirement as a whole, I don't think minors should, as a whole mind you, should be able to experiment or use exploritory entheogens or especially any type of narcotic substance...

If they get there hands on it & try it & everything is alright, then go for it, but still parents know best when a child is growing up... Many things they've done they we as children have taken for granted that was very subsantial for our "own good". Do you remember the trouble?

My two sense.

My Mind My Body- it's the same at any age, noone has the right to impose their beliefs on other people, except maybe in a parent-child relationship.
If a parent doesn't want their kid to buy salvia fine don't give them money, or control the money you give them. When they have their own money there too old to listen to mommy and daddy anymore anyhow so what they buy is now their choice.
Anyone else with an opinion on it is just sticking their nose where it shouldn't be(probably while one of their kids is out using salvia...lol).

its your duty as a parent to offer your children both moral and ethical guidance until they are equipped to do so on their own IN AN INFORMED WAY. there's no way anyone will ever convince me that a 14 year old child is mentally equipped to make the same range of choices as a fully developed adult is. at the age of 14 i highly doubt the mind of anyone is sufficiently developed to be able to handle an experience on the level of a salvia trip. having taken it myself, i KNOW i wouldn't have been, you just haven't accumulated enough life experience to be able to put things salvia can show you in context.

while i wouldn't say that simply assigning an arbitrary(sp?) age to things like this is going to work in all cases, its the only rational solution as i can see things ...

wow dude, you definitely hit it right in the head....
i am almost 17, and have been introduced into the psychedelic cultures for some years now... even though i did not even smoke weed until about a year ago, i always supported kids who did psychedelics and have worked to educate people my age about the pros and cons of drugs...
though i am someone who strongly dissaproves of cigarrette smoking and alcohol drinking, not to mention meth, cocaine, heroin, and prescription drug use (boy!!) i do strongly believe in the use of psychedelics and entheogens, and through personal experiences i've realized that more than any other sort of dietary endeavor in our lives, our relationships with psychedelics is in fact a relationship, and like most relationships it takes years to develop...
i support the correct and responsible use of psychedelics at any age, and i think that our society accepting this idea of not being mature enough to indulge in certain things does not really discourage kids from doing these substances, it only makes it more difficult to educate oneself, and to be ready to have a significant experience...
I noticed this when i looked at the difference from years back, i know people who took LSD as teenagers during the '70s, and teens who took it nowadays... the kids back then had this almost religious relationship with it, even though at first glance it seems like it was very recreational (people who dropped 3 or 4 times a week) back then there was a "universal" sense of it being a serious psychoanalytical catalyst or spiritual visionary experience (at least within the psychedelic culture in itself)
nowadays, what you see is kids doin' it at raves and parties, completely disconnecting from what things are and have always been and thats why psychedelics are less popular...
any teenager who had the right intentions with their psychedelic use and did their research should not be restricted from indulging themselves on their journey, and kids who don't know what they're doing should be able to do it, freak out so that they tell their other stupid friends not to do it as well... if anyone goes to sagewisdom.org they'll see that Salvia is not some dumb rave drug, and if they are smart they'll stay away from it, and if they are smarter, they'll do it responsibly...

its funny how a gram of salvia sold for 40 bucks and its legal. a gram of pot is 10, and its not.