Miley Cyrus may be taking the heat for showing up on video, with a bong, smoking Salvia – but California smoke shops can thank the celebrity for firing up sales. Since the video starring Cyrus became public, sales of the Salvia drug – the ‘drug’ which remains legal for sale in California to adults – has ignited, sales of Salvia tripling in just three days.
Technically belonging to the mint family, Salvia can be smoked in multiple forms including rolled and smoked like a cigarette or – in the method Cyrus showed on video – smoked in a pipe or bong. Results of smoking Salvia are an intense ‘high’ which users claim is on par with good marijuana or LCD.
California smoke shops may be happy about skyrocketing sales for the holidays, but at least one U.S. former Assemblyman believes that Miley Cyrus’s experience in life -- on video -- provides the ultimate reason to ban Salvia in California. California state remains one of 35 nationwide that allows Salvia use to remain legal.
Former California State Assemblyman Anthony Adams relayed to TMZ that Miley Cyrus’ decision to smoke Salvia is irresponsible – as to how it is “irresponsible” is still unclear, but Adams claims Salvia can make "you do incredibly crazy things.” Adams hasn’t yet cited examples of those “incredibly crazy things,” but the claim isn’t far removed from what naysayers of marijuana have been touting for many years. Perhaps most interesting about Anthony Adams’ recent press statement regarding the Miley Cyrus bong video – and his claim that Saliva can make “you do incredibly crazy things” -- is that the AB 295 California bill by Adams seems to include authoring to the opposite: according to the AB295 ‘Authors Statement’, Adams’ bill says “Salvia cannot be considered a ‘party drug’ or have any social use whatsoever. In fact, people under the effects of Salvia are usually not social with others and do not interact with people while having their hallucinating experience.”
It’s a little hard to do “incredibly crazy things” when, supposedly, no one else is around.
There hasn’t yet been any evidence or cases proving –even suggesting -- that Salvia use is truly problematic. U.S. states that have already banned or outlawed Salvia have done so on the basis of preventative arguments: North Dakota State Senator Randy Christmann (R) stated: "we need to stop this [Salvia use] before it gets to be a huge problem not after it gets to be a huge problem.” New Jersey Assemblyman Jack Conners (D): “Salvia divinorum use may not be a runway epidemic, but it's certainly is a phenomenon that warrants attention. We should take preventive steps now to prevent wholesale problems later on."
Former California State Assemblyman, Anthony Adams, had been the mastermind behind trying to get Salvia banned in the state – efforts that thoroughly failed in 2007. Adams argued that Salvia should be classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in California, that the drug needs to receive the same standing as LSD and marijuana. Unfortunately for Adams, his bill was voted down and the former Assemblyman was instead forced to settle on restrictions in selling Salvia to minors and the ‘underage’ group--those 'minors' under the age of 18 in California.
Adams’ argument and claims of irresponsibility – on behalf of Miley Cyrus – are a bit weak in that category too: the legal age to buy Salvia in the state of California is 18, and Cyrus turned 18 on her most recent birthday prior to the bong video, November 23, 2010.
The correlation is a little hazy, but Adams insinuates that the recent Miley Cyrus bong video has some serious meaning – that video footage portraying someone, who is of age and legally allowed to use Salvia in California, means it’s time to bring his previously-failed bill and outlaw the ‘drug’. Before making that argument, Adams may do well to first get his other ‘arguments’ back in order: his authoring of AB 295, which states that Salvia “cannot be considered a ‘party drug’ or have any social use whatsoever,” is a bit contradictory to his current claim that a Cyrus party video is now reason for the drug needing to be banned.
In the meantime, alcohol – well-proven to actually incite “incredibly crazy things” – of course remains legal. Perhaps Adams will consider switching course, toward renewed efforts to institute a new Prohibition.