Salvia divinorum (popularly known by its genus name
Salvia) is a psychoactive plant which can induce
dissociative effects. The species name, Divinorum,
was given because of its traditional use in
divination and healing.
Salvia divinorum has a long and continued tradition
of religious use as an entheogen by Mazatec shamans,
who use it to facilitate visionary states of
consciousness during spiritual healing sessions.
Its native habitat is within cloud forest in the
isolated Sierra Mazateca of Oaxaca, Mexico, growing
in shady and moist locations.
Salvia grows to over a meter high, has hollow square
stems, large leaves, and occasional white flowers
with purple bracts. Botanists have not determined
whether Salvia is a cultigen or a hybrid.
Its active psychoactive constituent is a structurally
unique diterpenoid called salvinorin A, a potent
κ-opioid receptor agonist.
Salvia divinorum leaf is chewed, smoked, or taken as
a tincture to produce varying experiences
(ranging from laughter to intense/profoundly
altered states).
The duration of effects is much briefer than those
of other psychoactive compounds, typically only
minutes in length.
The most commonly reported after-effects include
improved mood, sensations of insight, calmness,
and connection with nature—though it may also rarely
cause dysphoria.
Media stories generally raise alarms over Salvia's
legal status and are sometimes headlined with
scientifically ill-founded comparisons to LSD or
other psychoactive substances.
Parental concerns are raised by focusing on salvia's
usage by younger teens—the emergence of YouTube
videos purporting to depict its use being an area of
particular concern in this respect. The isolated,
controversial suicide of Brett Chidester, received
much media attention.
Salvia divinorum remains legal in most countries and,
within the United States, is legal in the majority of
states. However, some have called for its prohibition.
While not currently regulated by US federal drug laws,
several states have passed laws criminalizing the
substance.
Most of the proposed state bills have not been made
into law (motions having been voted down in committee,
failing, dying, or otherwise stalling). There have not
been many publicized prosecutions of individuals
violating anti-salvia laws in the few countries and
states in which it has been made illegal.
Salvia) is a psychoactive plant which can induce
dissociative effects. The species name, Divinorum,
was given because of its traditional use in
divination and healing.
Salvia divinorum has a long and continued tradition
of religious use as an entheogen by Mazatec shamans,
who use it to facilitate visionary states of
consciousness during spiritual healing sessions.
Its native habitat is within cloud forest in the
isolated Sierra Mazateca of Oaxaca, Mexico, growing
in shady and moist locations.
Salvia grows to over a meter high, has hollow square
stems, large leaves, and occasional white flowers
with purple bracts. Botanists have not determined
whether Salvia is a cultigen or a hybrid.
Its active psychoactive constituent is a structurally
unique diterpenoid called salvinorin A, a potent
κ-opioid receptor agonist.
Salvia divinorum leaf is chewed, smoked, or taken as
a tincture to produce varying experiences
(ranging from laughter to intense/profoundly
altered states).
The duration of effects is much briefer than those
of other psychoactive compounds, typically only
minutes in length.
The most commonly reported after-effects include
improved mood, sensations of insight, calmness,
and connection with nature—though it may also rarely
cause dysphoria.
Media stories generally raise alarms over Salvia's
legal status and are sometimes headlined with
scientifically ill-founded comparisons to LSD or
other psychoactive substances.
Parental concerns are raised by focusing on salvia's
usage by younger teens—the emergence of YouTube
videos purporting to depict its use being an area of
particular concern in this respect. The isolated,
controversial suicide of Brett Chidester, received
much media attention.
Salvia divinorum remains legal in most countries and,
within the United States, is legal in the majority of
states. However, some have called for its prohibition.
While not currently regulated by US federal drug laws,
several states have passed laws criminalizing the
substance.
Most of the proposed state bills have not been made
into law (motions having been voted down in committee,
failing, dying, or otherwise stalling). There have not
been many publicized prosecutions of individuals
violating anti-salvia laws in the few countries and
states in which it has been made illegal.
