Chemistry
The most active constituent is believed to be a chemical called salvinorin-a, sum formula C23H28O8. Its presence in the body is not detectable by current drug tests. It appears not to be habit-forming, on the contrary after repeated exposure, some users report a sensitization, where less of the chemical is required to produce the same subjective effects.
Salvia seems to have somewhat of a disassociative effect, and like other dissociatives, hallucinations are perceived most often only in a dark room or closed eye environment.
Legal status
Until the late 1990s, not many people knew about salvia. The advent of the Internet and the realization that the plant was not as of yet scheduled engendered numerous Internet mail order businesses who sold dried salvia leaves, sometimes for exorbitant prices.
The general public became increasingly aware of salvia in 2002. As of June 1, 2002, Australia became the first country to ban salvia and salvinorin. [1], [1] In late 2002, Rep. Joe Baca (D-California) introduced a bill in the United States House of Representatives to schedule salvia as a controlled substance, and the DEA has indicated on its web site that it is aware of salvia and is evaluating the plant for possible scheduling.
Civic and government action to ban salvia is often characterized as a knee-jerk reaction to what they perceive as yet another evil drug coming along to steal the minds of the innocent, gullible youth. Press accounts of efforts to ban salvia often quote law enforcement and government officials who exhibit a grossly inaccurate knowledge of the drug's effects, and frequently characterize the "high" as "chewable marijuana", or as identical to LSD and PCP [sic]. [1], [1]
Botany
Unlike other sages, Salvia divinorum produces very few seeds, and the seeds it does produce seldom sprout. It appears to have very little histocompatibility variation, so the pollen from a plant genetically identical to the style fails to reach the ovule. It is propagated by cuttings and by falling over and growing new roots. Although reportedly (Valdez, et al) isolated stands of S. divinorum exist in its native range, these are thought to be purposefully created and tendered by the people of the region. Therefore it is considered a true cultivar and thus does not occur naturally in the wild anywhere.
For the most part, the fate of the species lies with a very small number of clone plants. Of these few clones, there are only two that are in any kind of public circulation; the Wasson/Hoffman strain, and the Blosser ("Palatable") strain. The former is a strain discovered by those whose name the plant bears, when on a visit to the Mazatecs. The latter is the same case, in regards to name, and was discovered in Oaxaca; it is called "Palatable" as well, as it is said to have more palatable leaves when ingested orally than those of the Wasson/Hoffmann strain.
References
- Chavkin C, Sud S, Jin W, Stewart J, Zjawiony JK, Siebert DJ, Toth BA, Hufeisen SJ, Roth BL Salvinorin A, an active component of the hallucinogenic sage salvia divinorum is a highly efficacious kappa-opioid receptor agonist: structural and functional considerations J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2004 Mar;308(3):1197-203
- Roth BL, Baner K, Westkaemper R, Siebert D, Rice KC, Steinberg S, Ernsberger P, Rothman RB Salvinorin A: a potent naturally occurring nonnitrogenous kappa opioid selective agonist Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Sep 3;99(18):11934-9
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