Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 Source: Parry Sound North Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2007 Parry Sound North Star Contact: http://www.parrysoundnorthstar.com/e/contact-form.php?contact=52 Website: http://www.parrysoundnorthstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1618 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n850/a08.html Author: Ralph Givens LEAVE 'MINT' ALONE To the editor: Re: Petition to ban 'magic mint' in July 11 North Star. Before Parry Sound's drug crusaders wheel out the usual hysterical lies in their attempts to outlaw salvia divinorum, it is worthwhile to notice that no serious problems have been associated with salvia divinorum to date. There are no deaths, no desperate addictions and no robberies, assaults or murders connected to salvia divinorum. Of course, prohibitionists who advocate a salvia ban need no evidence of risk or harm to spew out dire warnings. If it is a drug and some people like it, it must be dangerous. Nevermind that alcohol and tobacco kill hundreds of thousands every year while salvia has yet to record a single fatality. The drug warriors still want a total ban. The moral morons advocating prohibition never stop to consider that throwing someone in prison has a far more detrimental effect than a lifetime of salvia divinorum use. RALPH GIVENS Daly City, California - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath