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Salvia Divinorum

Volume 491: debated on Tuesday 21 April 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the health effects of salvia divinorum; and if she will make a statement; (268961)

(2) if she will classify salvia divinorum as an illegal drug.

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has recently written to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs requesting that it provide advice to Government on the availability and harms of psychoactive legal alternatives to illegal drugs, so called “legal highs”, with a particular focus on protecting young people. I fully anticipate that this work will include salvia divinorum. The Government's position on its control will be informed by Advisory Council's advice.