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Apparently the hallucinogenic herb salvia is being targeted by lawmakers as ‘the next marijuana’. Eight states, including Illinois, have already placed restrictions on salvia-classifying it as a controlled substance, and 16 others are considering a ban.

Salvia is sold on the internet or in certain smoke shops and herbal stores, for $15-50 a dose, depending on potency. It is produced from a Mexican plant used by Mazatec Indians for healing and ritual prophecy.

No known deaths have been attributed to salvia’s use, but it was listed as a factor in one Delaware teen’s suicide two years ago-although the autopsy found no traces of the drug in his system at the time of death.

Most people think that this commotion over the drug is overblown. As soon as you make something illegal, people are just going to find something else. One Florida state representative has already introduced a bill to make possession of salvia a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Bill LB840, which would make salvia divinorum illegal in Nebraska has moved to the floor of the Legislature, but has seen little activity as of yet.

California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, an organization of more than 2,000 criminal defense lawyers, opposes such bills because the group says it criminalizes behavior without sufficient scientific evidence, such as whether the drug is addictive or harmful to the body. The group advocates public education about the drug-what a concept.

Many scientists believe the drug has “real promise,” particularly with treating mania or bipolar disorder. Others say it has potential for slowing the transmission of HIV. Who knows. Maybe we never will, with such drastic knee-jerk reactions to a pretty little plant.