Salvia divinorum Scotland ~ Salvia's Legal Status ~ Countries and States

<body stylesrc="../../../technical/backgroundformywords.htm" background="../../../technical/leafwords.jpg" bgcolor="#C0C0C0" text="#003300" link="#0000FF" vlink="#000080" alink="#800080"> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="5">Salvia divinorum Scotland ~ Salvia's Legal Status ~ Countries and States</font></p> <blockquote> <hr> </blockquote> <p> <font size="5">United Kingdom</font></p> <p>Salvia divinorum remains legal in the UK. In September 2001, in answer to a parliamentary question from Ann Widdecombe MP, asking the Secretary of State for the Home Office "<i>what plans he has to review the legal status of the hallucinogen Salvia divinorum</i>", Bob Ainsworth, a parliamentary Under-Secretary, for the UK Home Office, stated that there were "<i>no current plans to review it's legal status</i>".</p> <p>Following a local newspaper story in October 2005 Bassetlaw MP John Mann raised an Early Day Motion calling for <i>Salvia divinorum</i> to be banned in the UK (EDM796). The motion only received 11 signatures. It has not been debated or further escalated.</p> <p><font size="5">Australia</font><font size="4"> </font></p> <p>As of 1st June 2002, Australia became the first country to ban Salvia and salvinorin. According to the Australian Drugs and Poisons Committee Salvia had not yet shown evidence of damage or threat to public health/safety but had potential to be abused. In a statement which has been criticised as self-negating the committee said, "<i>There was no evidence of traditional therapeutic use other than in shamanistic healing rituals</i>".</p> <p><font size="5">Denmark</font></p> <p>With effect from 23rd August 2003, <i>Salvia divinorum</i> and salvinorin A were classed as 'category B' drugs in Danish law. Category B includes psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, amphetamine, and several others substances that are only legal for medicinal and scientific purposes. Possession carries a penalty of up to 2 years in prison.</p> <p><font size="5">Finland</font></p> <p>Finland passed legislation in August 2002 making it illegal to import <i> Salvia divinorum</i> without a prescription from a doctor.</p> <p><font size="5">Sweden</font></p> <p><i>Salvia divinorum</i> and salvinorin A were added to Sweden's list of controlled substances with effect from 1st April 2006.</p> <p><font size="5">Spain</font></p> <p>The sale of <i>Salvia divinorum</i> has been illegal since February 6 2004. The law only prohibits commerce. It does not make possession or use a crime.</p> <p><font size="5">Italy</font></p> <p>In August 2004, the Italian government decreed <i>salvinorin A</i> "a substance with hallucinogenic properties that may cause conditions of abuse and can manifest latent psychiatric pathologies like acute psychosis and depressive psychosis even in an irreversible way" and put it and the plant <i>Salvia divinorum</i> on their ‘table I’ of outlawed psychotropic substances in March 2005. The Italian government referred to an evaluation of Salvia made by the Italian National Health Institute, assessing it as "a powerful natural hallucinogen" to justify their decision.</p> <p><font size="5">Canada</font></p> <p>There has been media interest drawing attention to <i>Salvia divinorum's</i> availability in Canada, but there are currently no plans to regulate the herb.</p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400"><span class="mw-headline">United States</span></span></h2> <p>The DEA has indicated on its website that it is aware of <i>Salvia divinorum</i> and is evaluating the plant for possible scheduling.</p> <p>In late 2002, Rep. Joe Baca (Democrat- California) introduced a bill (Congress bill HR 5607) to schedule Salvia as a controlled substance at the national level. Those opposed to Joe Baca’s bill include Daniel Siebert, who sent <script language="JavaScript1.1">  </script> <noscript><a href="http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/drug_policy/Daniel_Siebert_salvia_letter.html" title="opens a new window" target="_blank"></noscript> a letter to Congress arguing against the proposed legislation</a>, and the <script language="JavaScript1.1">  </script> <noscript><a href="http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/" title="opens a new window" target="_blank"></noscript> Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics</a> (CCLE), who sent key members of the US Congress <script language="JavaScript1.1">  </script> <noscript><a href="http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/dll/salvia_rpt.html" title="opens a new window" target="_blank"></noscript>a report on <i>Salvia divinorum and its active principle</i></a>, along with letters from an array of scientists who expressed concern that scheduling <i>Salvia divinorum</i> would negatively impact important research on the plant. Baca’s bill did not pass. Despite this a number of States have introduced or are proposing their own legislation.</p> <p><b>Summary of proposed American State legislation: </b> </p> <center> <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber2"> <tr style="font-weight: bold"> <td width="9%">State</td> <td width="7%">Bill ref.</td> <td width="10%">Proposed date</td> <td width="12%">Classification </td> <td width="14%">Status</td> <td width="15%">Proposer</td> <td width="9%">Salvinorin A included?</td> <td width="59%">Notes</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%" rowspan="2">Alaska</td> <td width="7%">SB313</td> <td width="10%">05-Apr-2006</td> <td width="12%">Schedule IIA </td> <td width="14%">not passed / died</td> <td width="15%">Sen. Gene Therriault</td> <td width="9%">No</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="7%">SB38</td> <td width="10%">16-Jan-2007</td> <td width="12%">Schedule IIA </td> <td width="14%">proposed</td> <td width="15%">Sen. Gene Therriault</td> <td width="9%">Yes</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%">California</td> <td width="7%">AB259</td> <td width="10%">5-Feb-2007</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%">proposed</td> <td width="15%">Assembly Member Anthony Adams</td> <td width="9%">No</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%">Delaware </td> <td width="7%">SB259<br><i>(Brett's Law)</i> </td> <td width="10%">16-Mar-2006</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I </td> <td width="14%"><font color="#800000">Passed</font> - 02-May-2006</td> <td width="15%">Sen. Karen Peterson</td> <td width="9%">No</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%">Illinois</td> <td width="7%">SB2589</td> <td width="10%">19-Jan-2006</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I </td> <td width="14%">not passed / sine die</td> <td width="15%">Sen. John J. Millner</td> <td width="9%">No</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%">Iowa</td> <td width="7%">Senate Study Bill 1051</td> <td width="10%">18-Jan-2007</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I </td> <td width="14%">proposed</td> <td width="15%">Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy</td> <td width="9%">Yes</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%">Louisiana </td> <td width="7%">HB20</td> <td width="10%">25-Feb-2005</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%"><font color="#800000">Passed</font> - 15-Aug-2005</td> <td width="15%">Rep. Michael G. Strain</td> <td width="9%">No</td> <td width="59%">First State to ban Sd.</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%">Maine</td> <td width="7%">LD66</td> <td width="10%">Dec-2006</td> <td width="12%">prohibit sale to minors</td> <td width="14%">proposed</td> <td width="15%">Rep. Chris Barstow</td> <td width="9%">No, then Yes</td> <td width="59%">Amended - originally proposed 'Schedule Z' classification</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%" rowspan="2">Missouri</td> <td width="7%">HB165 </td> <td width="10%">05-Jan-2005</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%">not passed / died</td> <td width="15%">Rep. Rachel L. Bringer </td> <td width="9%">No</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="7%">HB633</td> <td width="10%">23-Feb-2005</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%"><font color="#800000">Passed</font> - 28-Aug-2005</td> <td width="15%">Rep Scott A. Lipke<br>and Rep. Rachel L. Bringer</td> <td width="9%">Yes</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%" rowspan="2">New Jersey</td> <td width="7%">AB3139</td> <td width="10%">06-Apr-2006</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%">proposed</td> <td width="15%">Assemblywoman Linda Stender</td> <td width="9%">Yes</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="7%">SB1867</td> <td width="10%">15-May-2006</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%">proposed</td> <td width="15%">Sen. Stephen Sweeney</td> <td width="9%">Yes</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%">New York</td> <td width="7%">S4987</td> <td width="10%">18-Apr-2005</td> <td width="12%">prohibit sale</td> <td width="14%">being considered by the State Assembly</td> <td width="15%">Sen. John J. Flanagan</td> <td width="9%">No</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%">North Dakota</td> <td width="7%">SB2317</td> <td width="10%">15-Jan-2007</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%">proposed</td> <td width="15%">Sen. Dave Oehlke,  Randell Christmann et al.</td> <td width="9%">No</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%">Oklahoma</td> <td width="7%">HB2485</td> <td width="10%">06-Mar-2006</td> <td width="12%">prohibit extracts</td> <td width="14%"><font color="#800000">Passed</font> - 26-May-2006</td> <td width="15%">Rep. John Nance</td> <td width="9%">Yes</td> <td width="59%">enhanced, concentrated, and chemically or physically altered </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%" rowspan="3">Oregon</td> <td width="7%">SB592</td> <td width="10%">22-Feb-2003</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%">not passed / died</td> <td width="15%"> </td> <td width="9%"> </td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="7%">HB3485</td> <td width="10%">15-Mar-2003</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%">not passed / died</td> <td width="15%"> </td> <td width="9%"> </td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="7%">HB2494</td> <td width="10%">25-Jan-2007</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%">proposed</td> <td width="15%">Rep. John Lim</td> <td width="9%">Yes</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%" rowspan="2">Pennsylvania</td> <td width="7%">HB2657</td> <td width="10%">02-May-2006</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%">not passed / died</td> <td width="15%">Rep. James Casorio et al.</td> <td width="9%">Yes</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="7%">SB1217</td> <td width="10%">16-Jun-2006</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%">not passed / died</td> <td width="15%">Sen. Lisa Boscola et al.</td> <td width="9%">No</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%">Tennessee</td> <td width="7%">HB2909 /SB3247<br>/TCA 39-17-452</td> <td width="10%">15-Feb-2006</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%"><font color="#800000">Passed</font> - 01-Jul-2006</td> <td width="15%">Rep. Park M. Strader</td> <td width="9%">Yes</td> <td width="59%">not an offense to possess, plant, cultivate, grow, or harvest <i>Sd</i> for aesthetic, landscaping, or decorative purposes</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%">Utah</td> <td width="7%">HB190</td> <td width="10%"> </td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%">proposed</td> <td width="15%">Rep. Paul Ray</td> <td width="9%">No</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="9%">Wyoming</td> <td width="7%">HB49</td> <td width="10%">13-Feb-2006</td> <td width="12%">Schedule I</td> <td width="14%">died</td> <td width="15%">Rep. Stephen Watt</td> <td width="9%">No</td> <td width="59%"> </td> </tr> </table> </center> <p> </p> <hr> <table border="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="24%"><a href="../../../salvia/legal/index.html"><Back to Legal Status Menu</a></td> <td width="19%"> <p align="center"><a href="../../../salvia/index.html">Salvia Menu</a></p> </td> <td width="19%"> <p align="center"><a href="../../../home.html">Main Menu</a></td> <td width="19%"> <p align="center"><a href="../../../menu2.html">Menu 2</a></td> <td width="19%"> <p align="right"><a href="../../../contact/index.html">Contact</a></td> </tr> </table> </body>