Lawmakers targeting new illegal drug

By Staff
Melissa Cason
Franklin County Times
Senator Roger Bedford, Alabama State Representative Johnny Mack Morrow, Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing and members of the law enforcement community came together Wednesday afternoon to bring awareness of a new drug and to announce new legislation to make the drug illegal in Alabama.
The new drug is a hallucinogenic called Salvia, which is an herb whose origin is from Mexico. The drug is very powerful, causing intense hallucinations, and produces a high similar to LSD or PCP.
Rushing said that the drug is readily available from several avenues and it is currently not illegal to obtain.
Bedford said he will introduce a bill to the Senate making the drug illegal to use, sale or manufacturer. Morrow said he will introduce similar legislation in the House.
"We are seeing a dangerous trend with this drug," Bedford said.
He added that the drug is used in strengths up to 80 times its normal regular strength.
"This drug has been known to cause depression in teens, which have led to suicides," Rushing said.
While the drug has a hallucinogenic effect, it has not been proved to be addictive, but may be used frequently because of the high received.
"The loss of memory associated with this drug could result in other crimes such as date rape," Bedford said.
Rushing said the drug has been outlawed in two states and restricted in several others.
"Eight countries have outlawed this drug," he added.
Rushing brought the drug to the attention of Morrow and Bedford after learning about it from local teens.
Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said his department has no arrests or complaints involving Salvia but that the resource officer for Russellville City Schools has mentioned it.
"I want to thank District Attorney Rushing and local law enforcement for bringing this to our attention," Bedford said.
"We want to see the law catch up to the science of designer drugs such as this."