Mapleheightspress.com - House bill tightens legal hallucinogenic herb laws

by Marc Kovac

Capital Bureau Chief

Legislation making it illegal to buy, sell or possess a currently legal hallucinogenic herb overwhelmingly passed the Ohio House April 15.

House Bill 215 adds Salvia Divinorum and its derivative, Salvinorin A, to the list of Schedule I Controlled Substances, ranking it with marijuana, hashish and about 30 others.

According to information compiled by the state's Legislative Services Commission, the "perennial herb (is part of) the mint family native to certain areas of the Sierra Mazateca region of Oaxaca, Mexico.

The herb can be chewed or smoked to induce illusions and hallucinations."

The legislation was offered by Rep. Thom Collier, a Republican from Mount Vernon, after being contacted by a Loudonville family whose son was shot and killed by a 12-year-old boy who was using Salvia Divinorum, according to testimony presented during the House committee process.

"This is a very dangerous herb and becoming very popular," according to testimony given by Allen and Shelly Bush, whose son Drew was killed in the September 2005 incident. " ... We now are aware of what it is and its dangers and feel very passionate about getting it off the streets ..."

Collier said there are no current state regulations for Salvia Divinorum, which "is legal to buy and is readily accessible and cheap. Perhaps even more enticing to young people, it has no known addicting effect."

HB 215 passed by a final vote of 92-0 and heads to the Senate for further consideration.

Marc Kovac is the Dix Newspapers Capital Bureau chief. E-mail him at mkovac@dixcom.com.