The mystery of Salvia

Posted on July 16, 2008
Filed Under General |

Salvia has been making the news a lot in recent times, partly because it has become more popular with young men and partly because there is a move in from politicians to outlaw it. Ironically the well publicized moves by politicians have brought great media coverage which, in turn, have brought Salvia into public view in a way that would not have happened had everyone ignored it. There are enough politicians on the war path now that a Federal ban seems inevitable, but until then it’s entirely legal in most states and you’re entitled to smoke as much as you want.

The reason behind Salvia’s relative anonymity is a bit of a mystery. This doesn’t mean it hasn’t been used for its hallucinogenic properties, though, as the native Mazatec tribe in Mexico will tell you: they’ve been using it for many years as an aid to spiritual healing. The first recorded use of the drug came in 1939, though it is likely that it had been used regularly well before this.

It appeared in the media very occasionally indeed, just being mentioned as a footnote in a paper on drug use in the 70s. It was not until a British documentary in 1998 picked on Salvia that it become widely known.

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