Slow Panic? The Regulation of Salvia Divinorum in Canada, 1991-2019
Deviant Behavior January 12, 2023 Jeff Yaremko, Kevin Walby 1 citation
A potent dose of salvia divinorum can dissolve the ego and sense of self, producing a catatonic state that alarmed politicians, media, police, and citizen groups. This paper analyzes news media accounts of salvia use in Canada and its federal regulation from 1991 to 2019 through qualitative content analysis. Claims about salvia shifted from curiosity to risk, and its eventual banning displayed hallmarks of a moral panic, though claims-making about harm continued for years before prohibition. The authors apply the concepts of slow panic and panic policy to salvia regulation, reflecting on implications for drug panic literature and the new psychedelic renaissance.