http://druglaw.typepad.com/drug_law_blog/2008/02/salvia-in-alask.html

Salvia in Alaska: A Great Letter to the Editor
The Fairbanks News-Miner of Alaska published a great letter to the
editor on salvia divinorum today. I'm reprinting the whole thing,
because it's so clear and articulate:

To the editor:

This letter is in response to the article that headlined Sunday's
paper about Sen. Therriault's bill to make Salvia Divinorum illegal in
Alaska. I found in his argument no scientific or logical reasons to
support his opinion that salvia is too dangerous for public
consumption. Effects include "uncontrollable laughter and
disorientation"… how terrifying!

The report of use included a woman who, under salvia's influence,
"felt like an object" and asked herself questions like "What is a
human?" The only danger I see in these effects is to the status quo.
Salvia has been used for centuries in Oaxaca by the Mazatecs who call
it "Ska Maria Pastora" or "Leaf of Mary the Shepherdess." They consume
fresh leaves to heal, divine and communicate with the spirit of Mother
Mary that they believe resides in the plant

Salvia's effects, when smoked, last only for only five to 20 minutes
and have no known harmful physical side effects or addictive
qualities. Let's compare that to another legal substance that Sen.
Therriault has no problem with. Alcohol does have addictive qualities
and many harmful physical side effects including vomiting, liver
cirrhosis, loss of consciousness and possibly even death! How many
people in Alaska die each year from alcohol-related vehicle accidents?
How many people die from salvia-related accidents? How logical is it
that, as a responsible adult, I should be able to buy 2 liters of
vodka and drink myself into a literal coma, but be considered a
criminal for partaking of a safe, natural plant that makes me ponder
the basic nature of existence?

It's time that we, as a nation, start making drug policies based on
scientific evidence of plausible harm, instead of propaganda and fear.
Sen. Therriault (and others) would like us to believe all
hallucinogens are dangerous, but this bit of propaganda and Sen.
Therriault's attempt to criminalize this plant are clearly blatant
attempts at mind control. As citizens of a free country, it's our duty
to let these representatives know that our minds are our own and that
we can decide for ourselves how to affect them.

Nicely done!