Scott Bingham The Politics Show South West

You are more than likely to have one or two salvias in your garden. With over 900 varieties they are a familiar sight, well loved for their varied foliage and flowers.

The most well known of the salvia family, is the kitchen herb, common sage.

But there's a lesser known member, salvia divinorum, with an uncharacteristic trait; it is a potent hallucinogenic.

Endemic to Mexico, it has been used by shamans there for 1000s of years.

Today, divinorum is legal, and is sometimes known to those who take it recreationally, as "horse killer".

The herb has already been the subject of an early day motion in the Commons, and for one expert, its potency is a cause for very real concern;

But not everyone agrees. Chris Bovey's company based in Totnes sells divinorum.

It is part of a growing market of so-called "legal highs";- mind changing plants and products, which are within the law.

Chris is adamant that the herb shouldn't banned, and questions whether making it illegal, would actually make matters worse;

And Chris already has experience of a product he sells, being banned.

His business was hit when hallucinogenic fungi, commonly known as magic mushrooms, were made illegal last year.

The government firmed up existing legislation, making the mushrooms the subject of the ban, rather than the chemicals inside them; fresh mushrooms as well as those prepared for recreational use are now outlawed.

Magic mushrooms are in the highest category, Class A; in the same bracket as heroin and cocaine.

Dealing these substances has a penalty of up to life in prison. Cannabis was downgraded from a Class B to a Class C drug in 2004, now carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison for supplying.

Professor Ernst believes that salvia divinorum should also now be designated as a classified drug.

The Home Office declined to give an interview but issued the following statement �

"The prevalence of salvia divinorum in the UK is extremely low and we are unaware of it causing any social problems.

"The drug is not controlled in the UK but the status of all drugs are kept under review.

"The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which provides independent expert advice to the Home Office on drug related issues in the UK, has no intention in the near future to investigate Salvia divinorum."

Opinions remain divided, but it seems as if salvia divinorum's legal use in the UK, will continue for the foreseeable future.

Opinions remain divided, but it seems as if salvia divinorum's legal use in the UK, will continue for the foreseeable future.

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