Senate votes to criminalize hallucinogenic herb salvia

The Minnesota Senate has given preliminary approval to a bill that would criminalize a little-known herb.

The bill from Republican Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen of Alexandria would punish possession or sale of salvia divinorum with up to a year in jail, fines of up to $3,000 or both.

Salvia divinorum is a psychedelic herb smoked to give users a high or hallucinations. Ingebrigtsen said use is growing and could become a major problem in Minnesota.

The bill passed on a voice vote.

The Senate also approved legislation to give bong smokers a slight break - authorities couldn't count the weight of bong water when determining how much of a drug they possess.