Keep Salvia Divinorum Legal In Alabama!

Legislators,

             It has came to our attention that an effort in the State Senate is underway to add Salvia Divinorum to Schedule I of the Alabama Controlled Substance Act. We, the signers of this petition, find this action is neither serves the public interest nor appropriate under the guidelines of the Controlled Substances Act.
             
            The bill in question, introduced by Senator Roger Bedford (D), is listed as Senate Bill 15. Currently, the bill is pending committee action in the House of Origin and will likely be addressed in the 2008 session.

             The bill, in its current state, is perhaps the worst possible course of action for our fair state. Users report that Salvia Divinorum has antidepressant effects. Research on this plant could lead to a breakthrough in treatment of a wide variety of mental illnesses such clinical depression. It is impossible to know what benefits could be reaped if this drug is arbitrarily pulled off the market.

             As we continue to work to provide oppurtunities for economic growth and prosperity to the residents of this Great State of Alabama, we should not ignore the industries that Salvia Divinorum might produce. As mentioned before, Salvia Divinorum might one day lead to a more effective treatment of clinical depression. It is our hope that Alabama can become a leader in that field. However, the appropriate pharmaceutical research cannot be achieved if Salvia Divinorum is banned.

            Also, we feel that Salvia Divinorum does not meet the requirements to be classified under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Section 203 of the Act reads as follows:

The State Board of Health shall place a substance in Schedule I if it finds that the substance:

(1) has high potential for abuse; and

(2) has no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or lacks accepted safety for use in treatment under medical supervision.

             Salvia Divinorum is a relatively unknown plant in our area. Also, it does not cause physiological or psyhological depenence. With these things in mind, it is apparent that salvia divinorum does not have high potential for abuse.

             As referenced earlier, Salvia Divinorum is a promising drug. There is even some evidence to suggest that this plant could one day be utilized to fight against cancer and HIV. Thus, it is apparent that salvia divinorum does indeed have great promise to become an accepted use of medical treatment some day.

               In light of all of this evidence, we believe it is your duty to vote against any actions placing Salvia Divinorum on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.