Why is the government making salvia illegal?

I don't see the reasoning. What is the danger they are claiming salvia causes that necessitates making it a controlled substance? The only danger I can see is if you tried to drive on it or something, and in my experience most people can't even WALK on salvia, much less even think about trying to drive. Plus the trip only lasts a few minutes. There is no known element of toxicity, it's not addictive, it doesn't make you violent, even if you're having a bad trip. So why make it illegal?

I feel like it's gotten to the point where if the government finds out a substance changes your state of mind AT ALL, it's going to be outlawed, whether or not there's any danger in it. I bet if they found out teenagers were getting high by eating a ton of tomatoes, we'd start seeing articles about the dangers of tomato consumption and the "Dangerous new drug craze sweeping our schools!" They don't even have to justify their bans anymore. "Oh, people can get high off it" is reason enough.

 

Which government is this?

 

The U.S. government. They haven't issued a sweeping ban, they're leaving it up to the states, but they have recommended salvia be banned and many states are in the process of ratifying the laws to ban it. I'm in Ohio and it'll be illegal here soon. It's in the works.

 

Because they stereotype drugs.