Petition to keep salvia divinorum LEGAL in New York State

We, the undersigned, hold that salvia divinorum shall remain legal for purchase and possession in the state of New York.
Furthermore, and as an alternative to ongoing attempts within the New York State Assembly to criminalize salvia divinorum, we propose that the aforementioned be recognized as an ethnobotanical that holds significant meaning for spiritual and religious expression within those people who chose to use or distribute it.
As such, individuals found in possession of salvia divinorum (either as natural foliage or in various commercial preparations) shall be protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution on the grounds of religious freedom. Possession, distribution, and/or use of salvia divinorum shall be observed with the exact same legal standing as those individuals who possess, distribute, and/or use other spiritual-religious paraphernalia, e.g. crucifixes, religious texts such as the Bible, Koran, etc., or any other materials through which one may actualize his or her religious and spiritual beliefs.
Lastly,we promote the prevention of salvia diviorum from classification as an illegal narcotic of any kind within the State of New York.