Drugs  

The addiction to drugs has become a favored legal defense in CNMI courts, and those around the nation, of late. Let›s get familiar with some known terms that have natural psychoactive ingredients.

Ayahuasca brew (popular in Peru)

Betel nut Areca catechu (Carolinian friends chew)

Cannabis (the MJ of our familiar)

Coca (Georgia’s Cola used to use)

Datura (the poisonous moonflowers)

Ephedra (Chinese traditional medicine’s ma huang, aka “Mormon” and “Indian” tea)

Kava (the intoxicating pepper of Polynesia)

Khat (an amphetamine like chewed stimulant in the Middle East)

Mescaline (natural hallucinogenic similar to LSD effect en Mejico)

Morning glory (with hallucinogenic properties, kin to the kangkong)

Nutmeg (and you wondered why the Moluccas was so popular to Europe)

Peyote (psychoactive alkaloid cacti)

Valerian (a garden herb plant)

Yohimbine (a veterinary tree often used to deal with erectile dysfunction)

Even of frogs, fishes, and mushrooms:

Psychoactive toad (psychedelic frogs do not turn into princes)

Hallucinogenic fish (herbivorous ones known in Hawaii may be in Saipan reefs)

Amanita (SE Asian mushroom variety is used for food coloring)

Not to be outdone, the lab versions abound as well.  The countertop variety, prescribed or OTC’d if you have a pharmacist’s friend, are:

Amphetamine (stimulant known among ADHDs, also used as a performance stimulant; Benzedrine inhalers, anyone?)

Methamphetamine (the powder that even cops gets busted for)

Body metabolism has drastically changed as the world is overwhelmed by reliance on pharmacological remedies. The reflex to reach for the pill has become universal and the statistics on effects and deviant behaviors have shot up as well.

Natural stimulants have always been a part of traditional remedies and have occasioned binding social relations around bonfires, picnic tables and living room mats. Those who abuse their use have reasons other than disrespect for the law. We need to treat those as such. 

Psychedelic or hallucinogenic, psychoactive or just ordinary stimulant, are available and are everyone’s choice. There lies the rub, a choice. Do we protect citizens from the choices they can make? Nah!  BTW, not to touch the stuff is a choice. Choose well! © 2015, Saipan Tribune