Pubdate: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 Source: Omaha World-Herald (NE) Copyright: 2009 Omaha World-Herald Company Contact: http://www.omaha.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/320 Author: Martha Stoddard LEGISLATURE MOVES QUICKLY TO BAN HALLUCINOGENIC HERB LINCOLN -- Quicker than the high from Salvia divinorum comes on, Nebraska lawmakers advanced a bill today that would make the hallucinogenic herb illegal in the state. Legislative Bill 123 would add the plan to the state's list of controlled substances, along with marijuana, cocaine and LSD. Under the bill, it would be a felony to possess or sell salvia. State Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber, who introduced the bill, told colleagues of a young man whose suicide was attributed in part to his use of salvia. He noted that Web sites selling salvia typically caution users against doing the drug alone. "I just think this is a scary drug that's out there," Karpisek said. Salvia divinorum is native to Mexico and is still grown there. It can be smoked, chewed or made into a tea. It is not the same as the salvia flowers commonly planted in Nebraska gardens. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin