Should Salvia Divinorum Be Legal?

An easy to obtain plant that is touted as a hallucinogenic herb is being targeted by lawmakers. The herb Salvia divinorum has already had restrictions placed on it by 8 states and 16 others are considering a ban on it.

The online sites that sell Salvia divinorum are running warnings to stock up while you can as the herb comes under fire.

"As soon as we make one drug illegal, kids start looking around for other drugs they can buy legally. This is just the next one," said Florida state Rep. Mary Brandenburg, who has introduced a bill to make possession of salvia a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Are lawmakers overreacting or does the herb impair judgement enough to make it a problem? the herb is native to Mexico where it is still grown. While it can be smoked it is mostly chewed or brewed into a tea. Carrying nicknames like Magic Mint and Diviner's Sage the saliva produces an out of body sensation. The effects of the herb last for up to an hour. Online an ounce of Salivia goes for $30 to $65 depending on the strength. It comes in a variety of flavors like apple and spearmint. The herb isn't in the mainstream with just 2 percent of those surveyed in 2006 ever using the product. Still could this product just be on the fringes waiting?