MAPS: Salvia Divinorum ... a new frontier for research

[Ian Soutar <soutar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Maps Forum,
I know people in Canada growing and enjoying Salvia Divinorum.  It is a
remarkable psychedelic because it is easy to grow and contains the most
powerful natural psychedelic known.  The effective dose is only about
500 micrograms which puts in league with LSD.

I have experimented with this legal herb for only a few weeks since the
Breitenbush Hot Springs conference (Oregon) on Salvia D. in mid
December.  My impressions are that this is a real heavyweight (but
legal) herb that could further the work of researchers working with
visionary drugs. 

Maps could benefit by encouraging the use of this herb in research and
getting some real scientific results without wasting too much energy
fighting the tough U.S. drug laws.  

I was the person who introduced the idea last year concerning amateur
scientists helping with psychedelic research by collecting data and
passing it on to academic based scientists.  This AVAILABLE and LEGAL
herb is waiting for both amateur and academic scientists to experiment
with.  

Salvia Divinorum is a herb/drug with the following characteristics ...

1/ It is very powerful ... capable of carrying the user to "other
worlds". Yet it can also be given in lower doses to create gentler
states of mind.
2/ It is a member of the mint (actually sage) family and is easy to
grow.
3/ It has been used for 1000 years or so in Central America.  Its
methods of use are well known.
4/ The active ingredient can be easily extracted, making the dose
predictable for research.
5/ IT IS ABSOLUTELY LEGAL AND AVAILABLE IN MANY GREENHOUSES!
6/ The effect only lasts at full strength for 10 minutes when smoked. 
Yet it lasts for an hour when the leaves are chewed.
7/ Its mode of action is as yet unknown ... thus a major break though in
pharmacology has yet to be made in this area.

As a Quaker I am interested in experimenting with this visionary
substance for enhancing silent meditation.  A small group of us have
discussed having a Salvia/Meditation study group.  

In the U.S. this type of study group associated with some religious
group could establish Salvia as a sacramental substance ... and make use
of U.S. laws protecting religious freedom to protect the status of
Salvia Divinorum.

Maps could help both popularize its use in Scientific circles and also
make people aware of the dangers associated with the abuse of Salvia
Divinorum.  Excessive dosage may be hazardous because the visions are so
overpowering.
					Best Wishes ...
							Ian.


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