Bill to outlaw Salvia goes to Strickland

STAFF AND WIRE REPORT

COLUMBUS — A bill banning the sale and possession of a hallucinogenic herb known as Salvia divinorum is now before Gov. Ted Strickland.

The General Assembly approved the bill banning the obscure Mexican herb at the end of its lame-duck session. If Strickland signs it, Ohio would join more than a half dozen other states in placing restrictions on Salvia divinorum.

Small packages of the herb are sold at head shops across Ohio and are also available on the Internet in varying degrees of potency.

Salvia divinorum is generally smoked but can also be chewed or made into a tea and drunk. No known deaths have been attributed to salvia’s use, but it was listed as a factor in one Delaware teen’s suicide two years ago.

Although Salvia is available in the Mahoning Valley, health and law enforcement officials have said its popularity is not strong here.