Recently, there has been a bit of a 'buzz' about a little-known plant by the name of salvia divinorum. This ado has come from our favorite purveyor of human stupidity, the well-intentioned but easily corruptive YouTube. There are numerous videos of people experiencing their respective Salvia 'trips', much to the delight of the cameraman and others around. What the hub-bub is about seems to be the odd behavior and near total loss of control that is evident on the videos. Of course, what really gets the public going is that this is being done by teenagers, and we all know that teenagers are easily influenced and need to be protected from strange, unfamiliar and potentially damaging things (that was sarcasm for those new to MCP).
Before I continue, here is a little history. Salvia Divinorum really is a powerful psychoactive plant that is related to the mint family. It has been used by Mayan shamans to invoke visions and is regarded as a spiritual tool to help one gain insight into his own life. The psycho-active element, Salvinorin A, is a uniquely naturally occurring substance. Normally, one can chew or smoke just the leaves of the plant, but the main chemical can be extracted and concentrated into a more powerful form. This is where the YouTube videos stem from.The videos usually show a volunteer smoking a pipe or what have you of 20x or even up to 80x concentration. This no doubt fucks them up. Yours truly has experienced Salvia for himself and can tell you from experience that it will take you on quite the ride. As soon as you intake it, you can immediately feel the effects (at least with the concentrated version). There is usually an internal feeling of added weight, as if you are being pulled or pushed in a certain direction, though your body remains still. Visuals come soon after, where patterns and lines will appear and often move, rotate or vibrate. Senses may become heightened, though there is often a fog associated where thinking straight becomes harder. Other things may occur, like dry mouth or confusion, but in total, the effects will generally only last for about 15 minutes. As you come down, there is generally a decent feeling buzz as you return to normality.
I think what has people up in arms is the fact that many people just don't know what this stuff is. All they hear is 'drug' and 'smoke' and 'catatonic testees' (giggity) and immediately come to the conclusion that it is evil and must be controlled. Granted, this plant is not for everyone and should most likely be avoided by those with pre-existing physical, mental or emotional problems, but this makes it not unlike a majority of items in our social sphere. What is needed is understanding and education and an ability to make informed decisions for your own personal well-being. That previous sentence could be applied to anything from food to guns to sex, and it all moves toward my much larger point of self-governance. There is nothing inherently dangerous about Salvia. Yes, it does make you trip out and lose control for a short period of time. However, it is completely non-addictive. You will not see someone driving down the road lighting up a cigarette of salvia. Trust me, after one session, it will be off your to-do list for at least a few months. I'm sure the worry is that something bad will happen during the period of lost control, but I find it highly unlikely. The situations for Salvia use are either A) alone time by one's self, introspecting and reflecting on the experience itself, or B) in a social atmosphere where you will have at least one secondary party to watch over you. It is not a super social anytime substance and is not something that concerned adults should about taking over the minds and bodies of the youth.
Like I said, my bigger point is to continue to struggle for the acceptance and social reliance on self-governance. Salvia is something that individuals can deal with without the greater public needing to worry about possible conflicts. I would say there is no social overlap, other than the viewing of trip experiences on video posting websites. If there is any concern or outrage, it stems from ignorance and misunderstanding and mostly from inexperience from those making accusations. All I can say is, if you have a problem with something, take a few seconds to learn about what your problem is, hear both sides of the story and make an informed decision. At least try to understand the pros and cons of whatever it may be, so you don't come off as a total ignoramus (google 'kevin james hardball' for an example).
Personally, I found Salvia to be a great experience as it continues to show the wonders that is the human mind and our natural world around us. I would highly recommend experiencing it in a comfortable, calm atmosphere with friends you know and trust. It just makes it that more fulfilling. I would end by saying to keep your videos to yourself as it is your own business, but hey, if it's hilarious as you (and I) think it is, feel free to share.
