North Dakota Man Facing Years in Prison After Buying Salvia Divinorum on eBay

[flashl]

A North Dakota man with an interest in herbalism and spirituality faces years in prison for $32 worth of salvia leaves he bought on eBay.

In what is likely the first arrest for possession of salvia divinorum anywhere in the nation -- and definitely a first in North Dakota -- a Bismarck man now faces years in prison after he bought a few ounces of leaves on eBay. Kenneth Rau, a bottling plant worker with an interest in herbalism, altered states, and religion and spirituality, was arrested by Bismarck police on April 9 when they searched his home looking for his adult son, who was on probation for drug charges.

Police found a marijuana pipe, eight ounces of salvia leaf, a quantity of amanita muscaria mushrooms, and a number of other herbal products. Rau now faces multiple charges, said Burleigh County States Attorney Cynthia Feland.

"He is being charged with possession of salvia with intent to deliver, as well as possession of psilocybin with intent, and possession of marijuana," she said. Although Rau told the Chronicle he thought he would be charged with a school zone violation as well, which would have made his intent offenses Class A felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison, that is not the case, said Feland. "He is not being charged with a school zone violation," she affirmed.

...

After Rau was arrested earlier this month, Bismarck police warned that it could be only the beginning in the fight against the member of the mint family. "It sure looks like there could be a market, based on the amount he had", Lt. Bob Hass told reporters. "This is the first we've seen of it." Hass did not return Chronicle calls for comment this week.

AlterNet

[Taverner]

1. STOP THE DRUG WAR NOW

The war on drugs is a war on us

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. They just made salvia illegal in MO

http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/08/04/17/law_salvia.html

[Turbineguy]

3. How clever!

I just learned two entirely new possible ways to get stoned!

This isn't a war on drugs, this is an education.

That's not what they had in mind is it?

[pacalo]

4. Utterly ridiculous. It sure is embarrassing to be an American these days.

For Pete's sake, I get mint leaves from my sister-in-law who, after retiring, enjoys growing her own herbs. I put them in my iced tea (during the brewing).

[izquierdista]

5. Psilocybin from an amanita muscaria

That right there should tell you that the police don't know shit from chocolate donuts. Here boys, I cooked these up in the bathroom myself!

[endarkenment]

7. amanita muscaria is fairly deadly

I wonder why one would want to get high from it.

[Avalux]

6. I have a giant salvia bush in my backyard.

I don't do anything but admire it because the flowers are pretty, but I wonder if the feds will come and confiscate it? :crazy:

[peacetalksforall]

8. I am fascinated by all the commerce angles related to this.

If this guy sues, would he involve the Post Office or Ebay?

What is in the list of all the items the postal clerk asks when they accept your package? Does it include controlled substance? If not, why not? If yes, do they ask which controlled substance and check the state for laws?

Will dogs be trained to identify this plant?

And what about the DEA and cops - have they all been trained to identify it?

Does Ebay know that this plant/herb is considered a hallucinogen? Are they programmed to identify the word and programmed to know in which states this substance cannot shipped from or to?
Same for UPS, Fedex, DHL.

Then what about Google and YouTube - are they going to be inluded in the movement to jail this guy?

Know why I'm being so flip?

Because the FDA works for big corporate lobbyists. Because the CIA appears to be dealing in drugs. Because of the 20 years and the attempt to get as many able bodied males in jail as possible. Because three Republican tax paid officials will be clapping and jumping with pride if this guy goes to jail - in spite of a lot of people in the country not even knowing that this herb exists, if I'm an example. I wonder if there is a problem with other mints. Maybe Wrigley's sold so well because it had a little of this mint in it. After all, we learned that Coke had a little bit of cocaine in it, at one time.

It would be interesting know if the prosecuting attornys have stock in Google (f this guy did use google to find it and the seller used google to list it). Maybe we're talking Mozilla?