NATIONAL DRUGS AND POISONS SCHEDULE COMMITTEE

Edited Minutes Of Meeting 32 - August 2001

15.1     Salvia Divinorum

PURPOSE

The Committee considered the scheduling of Salvia divinorum at the request of the Office of Complementary Medicines.

BACKGROUND

The Office of Complementary Medicines asked the NDPSC consider restricting access to Salvia divinorum on public health and safety grounds.

Salvia divinorum is a member of the mint family containing a range of terpenes including the hallucinogenic diterpene Salvinorin A. The herb, (fresh or dried) is chewed or smoked for its hallucinogenic effect. Liquid extracts of varying degrees of purity and potency are also prepared and used either as a booster additive to the herb or administered sub-lingually.

At least XXX XXXXXXX XXXX XXXXX XXXXXXX XXX, was advertising Salvia divinorum for sale in Australia and some broad based e-mail discussion groups on Australian web sites have included discussion threads on Salvia divinorum. The herb was also on offer for sale in NZ.

The pharmacology of salvinorin, the active principle of Salvia divinorum, was poorly characterised, consisting mainly of anecdotal evidence following use and negative evidence of interaction with most common neurotransmitter receptors. Increasing dosage (200-500mg) of salvinorin A was followed by increased changes in mental state and altered perception through to frank hallucinations and at much higher doses, stupefaction and amnesia. From the available descriptions, motor coordination may be impaired at relatively low doses producing only limited sensory effects.

There was no evidence of traditional therapeutic use other than in shamanistic healing rituals.

The herb was not native to Australia, sets little or no seed and was propagated primarily through cuttings. Salvia divinorum is extremely bitter to the taste and poorly scented. Accordingly it is unlikely to be promoted as a culinary or ornamental herb and is unlikely to be found "in-the-wild" as a weed.

DISCUSSION

The Jurisdictions advised the Committee that they had not been advised that this herb was causing public health problems, however this may simply reflect the relative “newness” of the herb as a potential substance of abuse.

The Committee appreciated that scheduling of this herb would seriously restrict access by the public and in particular may affect the right to import for personal consumption. The Committee also noted that historically it had been pro-active in the control of hallucinogens.

The Committee agreed that Schedule 4 would not limit access to or control importation or use of this herb and was therefore not considered appropriate as a control measure.

OUTCOME

The Committee agreed that there appeared to be a prima facie case for control of Salvia divinorum as an hallucinogen, but that there was no evidence of a major public health hazard at this stage. Accordingly, the Committee agreed to foreshadow appropriate Schedule 9 entries and seek public comment.

FORESHADOWED DECISION

Schedule 9 - New entries

SALVIA DIVINORUM

8-METHOXYCARBONYL-4A,8A-DIMETHYL-6-ACETOXY- 5-KETO-3,4,4B,7,9,10,10A-SEPTAHYDRO-3-(4-FURANYL)- 2,1-NAPHTHO[4,3-E]PYRONE           *(SALVINORIN A)

Edited Minutes Of Meeting 33 - November 2001

11.5     Salvia Divinorum

PURPOSE

The Committee considered the foreshadowed decision to include Salvia divinorum in Schedule 9.

BACKGROUND

Salvia divinorum is a member of the mint family containing a range of terpenes including the hallucinogenic diterpene Salvinorin A.  The herb, (fresh or dried) is chewed or smoked for its hallucinogenic effect.  Liquid extracts of varying degrees of purity and potency are also prepared and used either as a booster additive to the herb or administered sub-lingually.

The August 2001 NDPSC Meeting agreed that there appeared to be a prima facie case for control of Salvia divinorum as an hallucinogen, but that there was no evidence of a major public health hazard at that stage.  Consequently, the Committee agreed to foreshadow appropriate Schedule 9 entries and sought public comment.

Salvia divinorum can be legally imported for personal use and is not covered by Customs Regulations 1956 (Prohibited Imports).

DISCUSSION

The Committee noted that there was no response to the pre-meeting gazette notice in relation to the foreshadowed decision to include Salvia Divinorum in Schedule 9 of the SUSDP.  However, a Minute was received from the Office of Complementary Medicines of the TGA, thanking the Committee for considering the inclusion of S. divinorum into the SUSDP on public health and safety grounds.

DECISION 2001/33 - 7.

The Committee agreed to confirm its foreshadowed decision to include Salvia Divinorum in Schedule 9 of the SUSDP, on the basis of high potential for abuse and risk to public health and safety.

Schedule 9 - New entry

SALVIA DIVINORUM.

8-METHOXYCARBONYL-4A,8A-DIMETHYL-6-ACETOXY- 5-KETO-3,4,4B,7,9,10,10A-SEPTAHYDRO-3-(4-FURANYL)- 2,1-NAPHTHO[4,3-E]PYRONE  *(SALVINORIN A).