Military and civilians who live or work on Fort Benning are restricted from having and using salvia, according to a new directive.
Salvia is a purple plant that can be found in your grandmother's garden, but when the foliage is dried out and smoked, the hallucinogenic effects can be dangerous. Known as salvia divinorum or "Sally D," it is an herb sold legally off post.
Fort Benning Chief of Police Kevin Clarke said there have been about six salvia cases on post, but the recent restriction is meant to intercept that growing problem. Although use of the product is banned already by AR 600-85, the new directive goes beyond that regulation and also bans possession.
"It's becoming more and more of a concern," Clarke said. "But this is not unique. Over the course of time, people find substances they can get a buzz or high off of. They find things never intended for that purpose that work very well, but aren't necessarily illegal."
Obviously, Clarke said, Soldiers combining salvia while firing weapons, operating vehicles or exiting aircrafts could be deadly.
"Fort Benning does some of the most substantial high-risk training of any post in the world," he said. "So being out there in altered states of reality during a normal duty day (is dangerous)."
The new policy cites other controlled substances and designer drugs, natural substances or chemicals used for intoxication. Some of the many aliases are "spice," "London underground head candy," "red ball," and "spice diamond."
When purchased at retail stores, salvia typically is labeled and can be sold as dried leaves or a liquid extract, Clarke said. Its effects include hallucinations. The high, which is known to be stronger than that of marijuana, is short-lived at only about 10 minutes.
Violators of the new law could face administrative separation, but commanders make immediate decisions on what happens based on the circumstances surrounding the violation, said MAJ David Drake, Fort Benning chief of criminal law.
What you need to know
about salvia
- a hallucinogen with more powerful yet shorter effects than marijuana
- Fort Benning law bans possession and use
- currently not illegal off post
- violators could face administrative separation
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