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).
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