Controversy Over Street-Legal 'High' in Ocean City

Ocean City leaders are drafting a letter to state lawmakers supporting legislation to restrict salvia, which can be found in some boardwalk stores.

The letter will be sent this week, according to Ocean City Town Councilman Doug Cymek.

The federal Drug Enforcement Agency says salvia, which can be chewed or smoked, can cause hallucinations, slurred speech and dizziness.

A bill to ban the street-legal substance died in the Maryland General Assembly in this year's session.

Tal Hodara is a manager in one of the stores on the boardwalk that sells the dried green herb.

"When you smoke it, you're laughing, [and] you're tripping out a little bit," he said. "Sometimes you see a little bit of hallucinations, more or less."

Hodara sells small cap-fulls of the herb for about $200, depending on the potency. Hodara said it is safe, if used in a safe environment. Supporters also say the herb is not addictive.

The DEA considers the substance a "drug of concern."

"I'd be concerned too," said Ocean City visitor Julie Brincko. "If you lose control of anything for any length of time, I don't think it should be allowable. "


Either way, town leaders want the substance banned, as right now it is not regulated by the federal or state governments.

Jane Dickerson does not sell the herb at her boardwalk store, and is not sure if it actually does get users high.

"If you have the illusion that you are high, that's not a good thing," she said. "If you give a young person something, and they smoke it, and they think they got high off of it, they're going to do things not in a normal character."

State Del. Jim Mathias, D-38B, said he plans to resubmit legislation to restrict the substance.