Take note, salvia users!
Clip:
While the prohibition of salvia divinorum has been branded into
legislation for the last two weeks, knowledge of its removal has failed
to successfully spread to those familiar with the substance. Although
local businesses now risk facing $10,000 fines if found violating the
new legislation, many who have experimented with the trivial
hallucinogen remain ignorant to its newfound illegality.
Newshawk: MadisonNORML.org
Source: Daily Cardinal (WI EDU)
Pubdate: Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Author: Samantha Witthuhn
REASONS FOR STATEWIDE SALVIA BAN HAZY AT BEST
Don't leave public opinion out of public decisions.
Two weeks ago, the powerful hand of the law laid a smack down on one of
the few remaining legal drugs being used throughout Wisconsin. Salvia
divinorum, commonly confused with saliva, was effectively banned from
being manufactured and distributed among the many citizens of Wisconsin.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the short-term hallucinogenic
drug, salvia is a Mexican herb that was legal to those over the age of
eighteen up until March 3, 2010. The drug is known to cause
hallucinations that remain for a short period of time. They occur
seconds after being smoked, licked or chewed. The lack of lengthy
sensory stimulations produced by salvia have pushed it to become an
afterthought substance among avid drug users and essentially makes it an
unpopular and somewhat "non-existent" drug to the general public.
Despite salvia's minor impact on society, state legislators, including
former state Senators Sheldon Wasserman and David Cullen, have found its
existence to be so troublesome that they have continually exerted
efforts to ban the drug for the sake of "protecting our children."
Authoring the Assembly Bill 168, Wasserman and Cullen believe salvia to
be a dangerous hallucinogen that "we cannot allow young people to be
deceived into thinking [is] risk free because it is legal." Gov. Jim
Doyle concurred with Wasserman's claims and ultimately decided to rid
Wisconsin of the herb upon signing the bill outlawing the drug on March
3, making Wisconsin a fresh member of the 19 states now regulating it.
While the prohibition of salvia divinorum has been branded into
legislation for the last two weeks, knowledge of its removal has failed
to successfully spread to those familiar with the substance. Although
local businesses now risk facing $10,000 fines if found violating the
new legislation, many who have experimented with the trivial
hallucinogen remain ignorant to its newfound illegality. The reason for
this unawareness is the lack of public exposure to the bill. Time to
debate the guts of the bill or submit a referendum was overlooked, for
the taboo topic of legalizing any questionable substance remains a dark
subject most sensible state lawmakers aim to avoid.
Although students attempt to make their voices heard through stoned
State Street marches toward the Capitol once a year or by passionately
carving "Legalize It" on the back of almost every chair in Bascom 165,
decisions outlawing particular drugs continue to be made without public
knowledge. Delivering proper and accurate information concerning the
pros and cons of legalizing the use of certain substances remains
unclear because most politicians tend to turn their shoulders on
drug-related matters for fear of public disapproval. The ban on salvia
throughout Wisconsin is yet another example of a successful push to ban
a drug that ultimately only harms those who make the choice to use it.
Representation for those in favor of legalizing marijuana and other
drugs is minimal, and the time has come for legislators and
representatives to overcome their fears of rejection by particular
demographics and start listening to constituents who have valid
arguments surrounding big, bad drugs. The purpose of this article is not
to debate the pros and cons surrounding the legalization of marijuana,
but to highlight how important it is for politicians to start listening
to their constituents about these issues. By imposing laws and
regulations without public consent, state politicians like Gov. Doyle
are essentially deciding what is best for us. Constituents should have a
say in this.
Outlawing more and more drugs may have negative effects on those who use
them safely and legally, which might make their opinions significant
enough to deserve adequate representation. The lack of total publication
of the new ban on salvia divinorum demonstrates that politicians are not
taking those in favor of legal usage seriously.
Unfortunately, representatives continue to avoid subjects concerning the
authorization of particular substances for fear of decreased approval
ratings and pessimistic political reputations despite legitimate and
valid arguments being expressed by the opposition. The banning of salvia
throughout Wisconsin is yet another step backwards in the world of
healthy drug debates. What's next to go, Red Bull?
Samantha Witthuhn is a sophomore majoring in political science. Please
send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
While the prohibition of salvia divinorum has been branded into
legislation for the last two weeks, knowledge of its removal has failed
to successfully spread to those familiar with the substance. Although
local businesses now risk facing $10,000 fines if found violating the
new legislation, many who have experimented with the trivial
hallucinogen remain ignorant to its newfound illegality.
Newshawk: MadisonNORML.org
Source: Daily Cardinal (WI EDU)
Pubdate: Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Author: Samantha Witthuhn
REASONS FOR STATEWIDE SALVIA BAN HAZY AT BEST
Don't leave public opinion out of public decisions.
Two weeks ago, the powerful hand of the law laid a smack down on one of
the few remaining legal drugs being used throughout Wisconsin. Salvia
divinorum, commonly confused with saliva, was effectively banned from
being manufactured and distributed among the many citizens of Wisconsin.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the short-term hallucinogenic
drug, salvia is a Mexican herb that was legal to those over the age of
eighteen up until March 3, 2010. The drug is known to cause
hallucinations that remain for a short period of time. They occur
seconds after being smoked, licked or chewed. The lack of lengthy
sensory stimulations produced by salvia have pushed it to become an
afterthought substance among avid drug users and essentially makes it an
unpopular and somewhat "non-existent" drug to the general public.
Despite salvia's minor impact on society, state legislators, including
former state Senators Sheldon Wasserman and David Cullen, have found its
existence to be so troublesome that they have continually exerted
efforts to ban the drug for the sake of "protecting our children."
Authoring the Assembly Bill 168, Wasserman and Cullen believe salvia to
be a dangerous hallucinogen that "we cannot allow young people to be
deceived into thinking [is] risk free because it is legal." Gov. Jim
Doyle concurred with Wasserman's claims and ultimately decided to rid
Wisconsin of the herb upon signing the bill outlawing the drug on March
3, making Wisconsin a fresh member of the 19 states now regulating it.
While the prohibition of salvia divinorum has been branded into
legislation for the last two weeks, knowledge of its removal has failed
to successfully spread to those familiar with the substance. Although
local businesses now risk facing $10,000 fines if found violating the
new legislation, many who have experimented with the trivial
hallucinogen remain ignorant to its newfound illegality. The reason for
this unawareness is the lack of public exposure to the bill. Time to
debate the guts of the bill or submit a referendum was overlooked, for
the taboo topic of legalizing any questionable substance remains a dark
subject most sensible state lawmakers aim to avoid.
Although students attempt to make their voices heard through stoned
State Street marches toward the Capitol once a year or by passionately
carving "Legalize It" on the back of almost every chair in Bascom 165,
decisions outlawing particular drugs continue to be made without public
knowledge. Delivering proper and accurate information concerning the
pros and cons of legalizing the use of certain substances remains
unclear because most politicians tend to turn their shoulders on
drug-related matters for fear of public disapproval. The ban on salvia
throughout Wisconsin is yet another example of a successful push to ban
a drug that ultimately only harms those who make the choice to use it.
Representation for those in favor of legalizing marijuana and other
drugs is minimal, and the time has come for legislators and
representatives to overcome their fears of rejection by particular
demographics and start listening to constituents who have valid
arguments surrounding big, bad drugs. The purpose of this article is not
to debate the pros and cons surrounding the legalization of marijuana,
but to highlight how important it is for politicians to start listening
to their constituents about these issues. By imposing laws and
regulations without public consent, state politicians like Gov. Doyle
are essentially deciding what is best for us. Constituents should have a
say in this.
Outlawing more and more drugs may have negative effects on those who use
them safely and legally, which might make their opinions significant
enough to deserve adequate representation. The lack of total publication
of the new ban on salvia divinorum demonstrates that politicians are not
taking those in favor of legal usage seriously.
Unfortunately, representatives continue to avoid subjects concerning the
authorization of particular substances for fear of decreased approval
ratings and pessimistic political reputations despite legitimate and
valid arguments being expressed by the opposition. The banning of salvia
throughout Wisconsin is yet another step backwards in the world of
healthy drug debates. What's next to go, Red Bull?
Samantha Witthuhn is a sophomore majoring in political science. Please
send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.