Pubdate: Thu, 05 May 2005
Source: Advocate, The (LA)
Copyright: 2005 The Advocate, Capital City Press
Contact: http://www.2theadvocate.com/help/letter2editor.shtml
Website: http://www.theadvocate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2
Author: Jessica Fender

DRUG BILL OPPOSED AS HITTING INNOCENTS

Herbalists: Ban Would Snare Legal Businesses

A House bill aimed at keeping youngsters from getting high ran into
opposition Wednesday from herbalists and practitioners of natural
medicine, who argue it would hurt their businesses.

House Bill 20 would make it illegal to cook down or otherwise process
39 hallucinogenic plants, including morning glories and mandrake.
Distributing the substances, which can be lethal in large doses, would
also be illegal.

Holistic medicine practitioners say that some of the prohibited plants
are ingredients in Food and Drug Administration-approved,
over-the-counter pills they prescribe.

The House committee that heard the bill deferred until next week to
give both sides time to negotiate.

"As this is written, I would be fined and imprisoned, but I'm not
doing anything to harm anyone," naturalist doctor Kevin LeBlanc said.

Penalties for producing compounds containing the to-be-forbidden
plants would be two to 10 years in jail and up to $20,000 fines.
Possessing the material could cost a person up to five years in prison
and up to $5,000.

"The unintended consequences of this bill is that it might preclude
people from using these plants for culinary or medicinal purposes,"
said Cindy Bishop, a lobbyist for medical interests.

In the next week sponsor Rep. Mike Strain, R-Covington, said he will
meet with holistic medicine representatives to work out a compromise.

"We're going to look at it and see if we can allow prepackaged,
FDA-approved things," Strain said.

But that compromise might not help Native American herbalist John
Vinson, who recommends and provides natural remedies.

The Baton Rouge resident said he has been practicing traditional
Choctaw herbalism for 25 years.

Bans on plants like mandrake would not only be bad for business, but
violate his rights, he said.

"I don't think they should outlaw all these plants, because there are
people who are skillful in using them," Vinson said.

"There are dangers from drug abusers and users, but they should ask us
some questions about this."

If approved and signed by the governor, the bill would still allow the
39 plants to be used for decorative purposes.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin