Proposal would restrict hallucinogenic plant
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
During the summer months, it is pretty common to see the dark purple or scarlet flowers of the salvia plant in gardens around the region.
However, there is a type of salvia that some Minnesota lawmakers want to add to a list of controlled substances, right alongside high-powered drugs like Barbital.
Salvia divinorum, which is native to Mexico, is an ordinary-looking plant. Its leaves can be smoked, chewed, or made into a tea. Its effects last for a shorter time than other hallucinogens like LSD or PCP.
The drug sells for about $8 per pound, and can be purchased over the Internet or from local producers.
DFL Rep. Joe Atkins has authored the bill to restrict salvia divinorum in Minnesota. Atkins joins lawmakers in Florida and more than a dozen other states in moving against the spread of the hallucinogen.
Atkins talked with MPR's Cathy Wurzer.
Support Local News
When breaking news happens, MPR News provides the context you need. Help us meet the significant demands of these newsgathering efforts.