Illinois Outlaws Salvia

[senorsalvia]

I guess most might be aware already, but I just got done reading several articles pertaining to Ill putting schedule 1 status on Salvia :cry: --  Jeez...  Although I grew up in and spent most of my life in the Land 'O Lincoln,  I had real hopes that since the bill had failed previously, that it would not make it  this time either....  Salvia in the same class as big 'ole Heroin...  Uh, Yeah,  makes perfect scientific, and societal sense eh??  :roll:  When I last visited Illinois I took nearly a kilo of Salvia with me and gifted many of the peeps...  None had seen or tried any before.... Very few had even heard of Salvia.....  What 'ya wanna bet that within a year,  Salvia is relegated to some back-alley scenarios in Chi Town and elsewhere??   Aren't the WOD mongers just a great group of folks....  Gotta hand it to them to cause the price of Salvia to spike, to add another profit margin to the pockets of unscrupulous criminal element dealers.... Chalk another one up to the fascists ------------  sal

[Stonehenge]

That is really a shame. I will never give up my salvia no matter what stupid laws they pass.

[senorsalvia]

Nor will I StonY, Nor will I....  I'll tell 'ya,  if I wasn't morally opposed to making monetary profit off of entheos,  I'd have half a mind to move back to Illinois and start a big Sally grow operation...  Can 'ya just inagine how much S.D. a guy could turn out in one of those pole barns that litter all those corn, wheat, and soybean fields?   I do know I'm gonna have some t-shirt printed up with something Salvia on it...  That's a given!!!!--------------sal

[freeethnoseedring]

They just had a Criminal Law Committee Hearing at 9:30 this morning. But it looks as if it will be illegal soon.
//http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=SB&DocNum=226&GAID=9&SessionID=51&LegID=27693

[senorsalvia]

""""   ILLINOIS  REPRESENTATIVES   """      definition:   A sordid subhuman genotype afflicted  with  various mental abberations such as meglomania, reactionary conservatism, and knee jerk responses related to egoism....   It has been noted in recent studies that  such chronic long term affliction results in loss of liberties, reduction in the overall quality of life, and extreme annoyance and angst.....  Futher investigation has found that the only viable cure for such terrible condition is to Move Away, Far Far Away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!==============sal

[mconlonx]

Did *anyone* show up to oppose the bill when they had the Public Hearing? Did they even have a public hearing? People spoke up against proposed ban legislation in ME and CA--in ME the bill was amended to regulation (18+ only), and in CA, the bill died in committee.

If legislation comes up in your state, your best chance to keep it legal is to show up at the public hearing and speak in opposition to it. By the time it passes committee, it is too late. Writing letters and email won't do it alone--you have to SHOW UP AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST LEGISLATION IN PUBLIC.

[sachadelic]

People spoke up against proposed ban legislation in ME and CA--in ME the bill was amended to regulation (18+ only), and in CA, the bill died in committee.

And in Oregon too (as you know but forgot!)  A friend and I testified against the Oregon Salvia ban bill in committee hearings, and a few weeks later I received an email from the committee chair saying that as a result of my testimony, they had a better understanding of the issue and the bill would not go forward.

Testifying before committees works -- remember, the committee's job is to study the bill and gather information and make a decision about whether to pass it on to the legislature for a vote.   They don't know anything about the issue and they appreciate good solid information.  QUALITY of testimony counts, not quantity.  One or two really solid witnesses can carry the day.

[mconlonx]

<snip>
And in Oregon too (as you know but forgot!)
</snip>

D'oh! Sorry, sach!

Point being, people, that standing up and presenting facts during the public hearing stage of bills like this is your most effective chance to change the outcome of proposed bans. The people who have stood up are not professional lobbyists or some super-heroic representative of an organization devoted to entheogen rights, but regular people just telling the committee what they haven't been given until that point--realistic information instead of just media hype; common sense instead of Reefer Madness style propaganda.

If someone tells the government something is a problem, they are bound to believe it unless someone points out otherwise.

[sachadelic]

Just to emphasize the point again!  

If you hear of a bill to outlaw Salvia being introduced in your state, focus on COMMITTEE HEARINGS.  Forget petitions, forget letter-writing campaigns (the point of which is to try to give the impression that large numbers of people care about Salvia, and they don't).  THIS IS WHAT YOU DO:

Step 1 - Google the web page of your state legislature

Step 2 - Do a search on the bill.  The bill number is likely mentioned in news reports, but if you don't have the number, search for "salvia" and find it.

Step 3 - Click on whatever on the page tells you the history and current status of the bill.

Step 4 - Hundreds of bills being introduced each year, each bill is assigned to a committee to study.  The committees study the bills, and based on their research, select which bills actually go to the full legislature for a vote.  They also have the power to change or amend bills.  Look for the committee the bill has been assigned to.

Step 5 (optional, but excellent) - Look up the members of the committee and their snailmail addresses.  Write a very INFORMATIONAL letter and send it snailmail to each committee member.  Remember, they WANT good information, it makes their job easier.  You are doing them a favor. Sound very informed and put a lot of solid information in the letter.  Do NOT get all emotional in the letter, and do not treat them as the enemy.  Have the tone that you and they are on the same side.   Templates of successful letters are available.

Step 6 - Keep an eye on the web page, either the bill history part or the committee schedule part. Check it once a week to see if hearings are scheduled on the Salvia bill.

Step 7 - When the hearings are scheduled, GO AND TESTIFY.  Or find your straightest-looking, most articulate friends and have them do the actual testifying.  QUALITY counts, not quantity.   Committee hearings are NOT popularity polls, but are part of their study of the bill.   One or two solid witnesses is better than fifty flakes.   The committee members WANT GOOD INFORMATION and the purpose of the hearing is to gather information to help them decide whether a bill should be sent for a vote.  Sound well-informed, have the facts ready at your fingertips.  They may ask questions of the witnesses in order to gather information.  If someone else testifying for the bill has given wrong info, you can correct it.  Dress very straight, because you are creating their visual image of Salvia users.  Gray hair is a plus!

THAT is how you do it.  So far there has been a three for three success rate (ME, CA, OR) using this approach.

[mconlonx]

^^^
Aye. This is the way to do it. Two first-hand accounts--not rumor, hearsay, or FOAF stuff--from people, mere concerned citizens, who successfully defended salvia in their states.