Legislators are falling over themselves to ban the latest legal hallucinogenic. Salvia Divinorum, otherwise known as “Magic Mint,” “Ska Maria Pastora” or “Sally D”, is a member of the Sage family that originates from Mexico. Salvia Divinorum contains Salvinorin A which, when taken, induces hallucinogenic trances similar to those experienced by users of LSD; the plant is the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogenic known.

The drug works by affecting certain areas of the brain – those also affected by pain-reducing opioids like heroin and morphine – and it is these affected receptors that cause the hallucinogenic experiences.

The legislators have so far been unsuccessful in convincing the US Senate to ban Salvia Divinorum, but that hasn’t stopped a handful of States going it alone and banning the drug – or at the very least restricting its use and sale. The future is a little shaky for Salvia Divinorum, but there is still much hope.