SB 52-SALVIA DIVINORUM AS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE  2:51:19 PM CHAIR DAVIS announced consideration of SB 52. DAVE STANCLIFF, Staff to Senator Therriault, read the sponsor statement FOR SB 52, an Act relating to scheduling Salvia Divinorum and Salvinorin A as controlled substances. This bill would place the natural plant and the substance within the plant on the same schedule in our statutes that contains mescaline, LSD, peyote and other similar hallucinogenic substances. He recommended that, if any of the members wish to learn more "up close and personal," there are over 1000 sites on YouTube where they can actually watch persons under the influence of this particular hallucinogenic substance, which is available to children through the internet or down the street at the local smoke shop. It is legal in Alaska, which is telling Alaska's kids it's OK. States and countries around the globe are finding that they need to control this substance because it is a danger. 2:53:04 PM CHAIR DAVIS called for brief public testimony. 2:53:17 PM JACK DEGENSTEIN, Anchorage, AK, asked if the committee intends to move this bill today. CHAIR DAVIS answered that she does not intend to move the bill; the committee is simply taking testimony at this time. MR. DEGENSTEIN said he represents a group of people who are part of a community that is involved with this plant. He stated that in the three years since this bill first came up, they have seen no problems related to its use, which he feels proves that it is not creating a health or social crisis. Passing this bill would serve only to impose upon citizens' individual liberties; so while he does support regulation of the drug, he opposes this bill. BRETT PATTISON, representing himself, also opposes this bill. He said he has never taken any illicit substances, not even tobacco or alcohol. He had a psychotic episode in 1998 at the age of 17 and was moved out-of-state to a medical facility where he was diagnosed as bi-polar. While there, he was prescribed medications like Paxil and Depakote, which caused him terrible headaches, and during one episode was injected with Haldol, which caused serious side-effects. He has used salvia numerous times during the past five years without any lasting affects either mentally or physically and it has not impacted his daily life at all. He sees potential for the drug in medical applications and is in favor of regulation while conducting further research into its use. SCOTT KOHLHAAS, State Chairman, Alaska Libertarian Party, said he is representing his party's 6600 registered voters today on in opposition to SB 52. Libertarians believe in a strict respect for civil liberties and he thinks this bill would violate those civil liberties, not only religious liberties, but people's right to live in whatever manner they choose and engage in whatever practices they wish as long as they are peaceful. The libertarians also take a principled stand on the free-market economy; if this is driven underground, certainly the pushers will make money and if it is prohibited, the pharmaceutical companies will make a ton of dough as well. The libertarians are opposed to prohibition; they think the committee should be taking items off the scheduled substance list and not adding to it. He asked the committee to let this bill die. CHAIR DAVIS held SB 52 in committee.