Parham residents concerned about Salvia

Submitted | Oct 01, 2009

Anna Vinkle was alarmed when she learned that her daughter had experimented with a Mexican herb known as Salvia, which produces short-lived but powerful hallucinogenic effects.

Although she was relieved to find out her daughter was scared by smoking the herb, and said she would never try it again, Anna Vinkle has remained concerned about other children in the community. “This is a dangerous drug,” she said, “and I don’t want it in our community at all.”

As far as Anna Vinkle is aware, there are no retailers in Central Frontenac that are currently selling Salvia, but it is available in Kingston and online.

According to online sources, Salvia is an unrestricted substance in Canada and most US States, but some European countries have placed restrictions on its sale.

It is a Mexican herb, “Salvia Divinorum” of the mint family, and it has historically been used in the spiritual practice of the Mazatec peoples. Although the effects of the herb are relatively mild in its natural form, a process whereby it can be concentrated to 5x, 10x, 20x, and 30x strength turn it into a powerful psychotropic substance when ingested by smoking it through a water pipe. Common effects include: uncontrollable laughter, sensations of motion, visions of membranes, films and various two dimensional sources, merging with or becoming objects, and overlapping realities.

The high school has been informed that Salvia may be available to the student population and Vinkle contacted Mayor Gutowski, who said she would raise the matter with the Health Unit in Kingston.

“I would like to see this substance banned, at least in Central Frontenac, but I will have to see how this can be done,” Vinkle said.