Sally D.

January 25, 2008 11:26 AM

Salvia divinorum is whack. The effects can be seen in these videos. You can also read some reviews before you purchase some.
posted by gman (46 comments total)

Yep...
posted by TwelveTwo at 11:32 AM on January 25, 2008

A sales pitch for drugs.... ? Complete with a link as to where to buy them.... Welcome to the metafilter of the future......

Let's just jump to the main course, does anyone know where I can get some crack?
posted by HuronBob at 11:33 AM on January 25, 2008

Let's see, one hit and you turn into a babbling idiot.

DO NOT WANT.
posted by chuq at 11:35 AM on January 25, 2008

not sure those videos are going to entice anyone to buy anything.
posted by gman at 11:35 AM on January 25, 2008

Hey, gman, remember yesterday when you wrote this, just before your post was deleted? Words of wisdom, man. Words of wisdom.
posted by dersins at 11:36 AM on January 25, 2008

The 1% interest I had in trying this evaporated after watching some of the videos. Ugh.

The most commonly reported after-effects include an increased feeling of insight... (emphasis mine)

Here's an idea: If you want insight, try thinking, reading or learning about something.

But then, I don't even drink, so I guess I'm an outlier.
posted by DU at 11:36 AM on January 25, 2008

Dude I am flagging this with the Immense Flag of Great Justice!
posted by Mister_A at 11:36 AM on January 25, 2008

Salvia is a bit on the shamanic side of psychedelics. Set and setting are crucial, and it's truly not for everyone. You should not do salvia at a party, or anywhere that distractions will be encountered.

It's not "whack," but you need to treat it with respect, or you'll get your ass kicked. BTW, the effects can't really be seen in those videos. You need to experience it to understand what the effects are, which are similar to DMT. It pretty much takes you to another world.

Not to be too nitpicky, but this FPP is pretty weak on substance.
posted by krinklyfig at 11:37 AM on January 25, 2008

Look like an idiot: The anti-drug. If that worked, we'd be sober.

If the wiki entry is right, this might be an excellent therapeutic alternative for LSD.
posted by ewkpates at 11:37 AM on January 25, 2008

DU writes "Here's an idea: If you want insight, try thinking, reading or learning about something."

Hey, here's an insight: don't comment on things about which you know nothing.
posted by krinklyfig at 11:38 AM on January 25, 2008

It seems FPP is also the sound of a post being smoked.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:38 AM on January 25, 2008

I haven't been this excited since MetaFilter told me where to buy a trepination knife! Mostly because I accidentally cut out the part of my brain that allows me to feel excitement!
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:39 AM on January 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

I had never heard of it, and found it interesting. Thanks for posting.
posted by cell divide at 11:40 AM on January 25, 2008

HuronBob writes "Let's just jump to the main course, does anyone know where I can get some crack?"

Crack != salvia.

Salvia is a type of sage. It would be extremely difficult to eradicate, even if we wanted to, but its effects are nothing like crack (for one, it's not addictive).

Another ignorant comment, courtesy of the Drug War.
posted by krinklyfig at 11:40 AM on January 25, 2008

Well Astro Zombie, trepanation knives are really on the shamanistic side of do-it-yourself brain surgery, and you have to respect them FUCKING FUCK FUCKTARD FUCK FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE!!11!


Guess which part of my brain I just touched with a screwdriver?
posted by Mister_A at 11:42 AM on January 25, 2008

Do it again!
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:45 AM on January 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

Would never use it or any drug but this is a good, informative post.
posted by Jay Reimenschneider at 11:45 AM on January 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

Guess which part of my brain I just touched with a screwdriver?

Cute.

The primary effects of salvia are similar to those of DMT, as I mentioned before. DMT is found as a part of the brew ayahuasca, which is used ritually in shamanic practices.
posted by krinklyfig at 11:45 AM on January 25, 2008

Another ignorant comment, courtesy of the Drug War.

If only the gov't hadn't poisoned you against gettin' mad crunked, you'd see things the way I do.

*raises fist to sky, shakes it* DAMN YOU, GOV'T!1!!!
posted by Pecinpah at 11:47 AM on January 25, 2008

Salvia was really quite wonderful when I tried it. Kind of a powerful mythic overlay that accented reality as I usually experience it. I've only smoked it once, though, as I generally like to experiment with psychoactives in psychologically-safe environments (for salvia, I was at the ocean shore, with a couple of trusted friends nearby to keep an eye on me without interrupting my experience). I'd like to give it another whirl, but I decided I'd wait until I was in a similarly peaceful place and emotional state before doing so. That was a few years back, and although I've kept some stored so that I can do it again, I still haven't gotten around to it; I guess I've just been waiting for the right time.

But now that I see these videos, it's clear I've been approaching this completely wrong. What I really need is a camera and access to YouTube. That's obviously the best way to experiment with one's neurochemistry.

tldr YOU MYSPACE KIDS GET OFF MY GOD DAMN LAWN
posted by Greg Nog at 11:48 AM on January 25, 2008

Griefing:Terrorism :: Salvia:Crack
posted by absalom at 11:48 AM on January 25, 2008

Yeah, this is probably not a good place to discuss something like salvia with anything approaching intellectual curiosity. Too bad.
posted by krinklyfig at 11:49 AM on January 25, 2008

it's not addictive

There's no evidence either way, actually (unless you'd care to cite some).
posted by oaf at 11:49 AM on January 25, 2008

krinklyfig, this is not a discussion site, existence of discussions notwithstanding.
posted by Mister_A at 11:52 AM on January 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

oaf writes "There's no evidence either way, actually (unless you'd care to cite some)."

There is no evidence that it's addictive. I'd like to find evidence of someone who is addicted to it. It's only as addictive as any psychedelic, which is to say, some people will use it to escape and may become dependent on it, but that's about it. It's not like quitting cigarettes, heroin or meth. I don't know of anyone who has ever struggled with quitting salvia. It's just not something you do habitually. It's something that most people do rarely, even those who like it.

Do you have evidence otherwise?
posted by krinklyfig at 11:53 AM on January 25, 2008

Just an observation from someone who's never smoked sd: the ONDCP could not create a better campaign than a page with these videos. Because, truly, the effects look absolutely wretched. Most striking of all, the first kid with glasses who goes from intelligent coherence to ocean muck in the space of fifteen seconds.
posted by the sobsister at 11:53 AM on January 25, 2008

I'm pretty sure Salvia is illegal under the Federal Analogue Act, the law which basically says that any fun mind-altering substance is illegal.
posted by mullingitover at 11:53 AM on January 25, 2008

Mister_A writes "krinklyfig, this is not a discussion site, existence of discussions notwithstanding."

Thanks for the help. Wait, why should I bother replying?
posted by krinklyfig at 11:54 AM on January 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

Oh, I'm curious. I'd be interested in the biochemistry of this and other drugs. But about the "insight" I'd get by feeding my processor deliberately garbled inputs? Not so much. I mean, I've seen static before.
posted by DU at 11:54 AM on January 25, 2008

mullingitover writes "I'm pretty sure Salvia is illegal under the Federal Analogue Act, the law which basically says that any fun mind-altering substance is illegal."

No, not really. It has to be an analogue of something that's already illegal. Divinorum A is not analogous to any other substance. But it's also never been tested in federal court. Right now, the feds are looking at it but are making no claims to its legality.
posted by krinklyfig at 11:55 AM on January 25, 2008

If anyone ever attempts to compare the salvia experience to that of lsd it is most likely they have not tried one of the substances, indeed quite possibly neither.

Would never use it or any drug but this is a good, informative post.

Type "salvia" into Wikipedia, Youtube, and Google, and you end up with this post.

FILTER, goddamnit!
posted by prostyle at 11:55 AM on January 25, 2008

There is no evidence that it's addictive.

There's no evidence that it's not. No one's looked for any, either. And absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
posted by oaf at 11:55 AM on January 25, 2008

prostyle writes "Type 'salvia' into Wikipedia, Youtube, and Google, and you end up with this post."

Yeah, my point exactly.
posted by krinklyfig at 11:55 AM on January 25, 2008

Crap post. Salvia is a complex drug, and a complex issue in the world of drug enforcement. This is the best you could do?
posted by hermitosis at 11:56 AM on January 25, 2008

Do you have evidence otherwise?

It seems to have created an obsession in you. You've got about 1/4 of all the comments in this thread.
posted by DU at 11:57 AM on January 25, 2008

it's not addictive....

where have i heard that before...?

and...krinkly...you're starting to sound like an ad...
posted by HuronBob at 11:57 AM on January 25, 2008

Some friends of mine who took salvia had experiences ranging from not feeling any different to blacking out for various periods ranging from 2 seconds to 5 minutes. Fucking weird ass drug.
posted by sperose at 11:57 AM on January 25, 2008

I see... I see.. a Golden Path.

And I'm covered in silver worms! Ack!
posted by effwerd at 11:57 AM on January 25, 2008

first of all...isn't it "wack," not "whack?"

i was disappointed by my salvia experience. frankly, it didn't do much for me. but then again, i only tried it about 5 times, all from a single source -- so maybe it's just the supply we had.

i'm not expecting mefi to become erowid...but dang! what's with all the hating?

i'm not sure i trust all those kids' videos. how can we know if they're just fucking around (ie. faking it?)

'cause, if they're not...i think i might want to try again. anything that makes you that (temporarily) stupid and silly is aces in my book.
posted by CitizenD at 11:58 AM on January 25, 2008

Don't worry, effwerd...if you're doing SD, it'll all be over in 15 minutes or less. Just hang in there...
posted by JibberJabber at 11:58 AM on January 25, 2008

oaf writes "There's no evidence that it's not. No one's looked for any, either. And absence of evidence is not evidence of absence."

That's not how medical science works. A substance is not automatically considered addictive until proven otherwise. There is no medical "test" to determine whether a substance is addictive or not. Tell me this: how many cases of salvia addiction have been diagnosed and/or treated, ever? Addiction therapy doesn't care so much about the substance, it's about the behavior, and we should be able to find some of these people, right?

From personal experience with my own addiction problems, and with salvia, and other substances, I can say unequivocally that it's not addictive. I'd be willing to put my own money behind it. But don't mind me. Do your own research (I have), but do that before you start talking.
posted by krinklyfig at 11:59 AM on January 25, 2008

Salvia is definitely an interesting substance. I did it once, maybe 10 years ago, when there really wasn't much written about it. My friend Scott and I had ordered of of the 20x extract from somewhere online, along with an ounce of the dried leaves to put the extract on. All we knew was to take it slowly and to lay down in a dark room with someone watching over you at all times.

I lay down on my bed with Scott fitting in a chair beside me and started taking puffs. After the third or fourth deep inhalation, the world melted away and I became a viking ship. Not a viking, but a viking ship. I felt that there were rows of little men with oars stationed on either side of my body propelling me through the icy night water. There weren't really the typical psychedelic color patterns that I was expecting - just me as a viking ship.

I came out of it after not too long and Scott took his turn. He couldn't get it to take hold at all - he just got a mild euphoric sensation that lasted about 15 minutes. Neither one of us had any particular desire to try it again any time soon. The salvia sat on a shelf in my room for a few months after that, then I think I traded it to someone for some good weed. I'd probably try it again if offered, but I wouldn't go out of my way to obtain it.

All I can really say is in my salvia dreams? That's where I'm a viking... ship.
posted by item at 12:00 PM on January 25, 2008 [7 favorites]

krinklyfig writes "No, not really. It has to be an analogue of something that's already illegal. Divinorum A is not analogous to any other substance. But it's also never been tested in federal court. Right now, the feds are looking at it but are making no claims to its legality."

O RLY?
From the article:

Under part A(iii), which can stand alone and is sufficient by itself to cause a substance to be classed as an analogue, any substance which is represented as having similar effects to a controlled drug will be treated as if it were that controlled drug. If you sold ordinary dextrose for the purpose of human consumption, but advertised it as being "like cocaine", you could be prosecuted as if the sugar were actually cocaine.

...and I already see someone in this thread saying it's "like DMT." QED. I'm not defending this, I'm just pointing it out. I think the Analogue Act is idiotic.
posted by mullingitover at 12:00 PM on January 25, 2008

HuronBob writes "and...krinkly...you're starting to sound like an ad..."

You're sounding like public service announcement from the Partnership for a Drug Free America.
posted by krinklyfig at 12:01 PM on January 25, 2008

mullingitover writes "...and I already see someone in this thread saying it's 'like DMT.' QED. I'm not defending this, I'm just pointing it out. I think the Analogue Act is idiotic."

The feds have not said it's illegal, and they have been looking at it for years. I have to go by what they say now, rather than by what we conjecture they might say in the future.
posted by krinklyfig at 12:02 PM on January 25, 2008

krinklyfig... Are you saying that the way to determine if something is addictive is to try it to the point of addiction? Is that the "research" you mean or am I misunderstanding that last post?
posted by HuronBob at 12:02 PM on January 25, 2008