Is Miley Cyrus' Salvia Worse Than Marijuana?

A Miley Cyrus salvia video hit the Net last week as reported at sites such as Pop Crunch. It was a sight that put to rest any doubt that Miley Cyrus is no longer Hannah Montana.

Although salvia is currently legal in most states, it's a hallucinogenic herb that is becoming a cause for increasing concern, and it's not a drug intended for minors. Salvia causes "intense, but short-lived, effects, including visual distortions, hallucinations, intense dissociation and disconnectedness from reality, physical or visual impairment, disorientation and dizziness." The drug takes hold within 30 seconds when smoked. You want to stay away from a drunk driver, and you'd want to stay away from a driver who has just smoked salvia.

Many parents of celebrities choose to ignore or deny the fact that their child has a problem with substance abuse. Lindsay Lohan's mother, Dina Lohan, comes to mind. But Billy Ray Cyrus has taken an honest approach about his feelings. He recently wrote on his Twitter, after viewing the infamous video, "Sorry guys. I had no idea. Just saw this stuff for the first time myself. I'm so sad. There is much beyond my control right now." It's not an easy time for the Cyrus family as Billy Ray and his wife Tish deal with divorce. We can only imagine how difficult the divorce must be for Miley, too.

The famous Dr. Drew is worried about the young singer, as well. "Adolescents don't get depressed the way adults do. They don't get sad and cry and withdraw. They often act out and become irritable, they act out with drugs and... get in trouble and she seems to be suffering," Dr. Drew said. "This cat is out of the bag. This is a child who is in trouble and who is suffering and this is her way of trying to manage that. Get professional help."

Currently, Cyrus is able to maintain her responsibilities, show up on time, entertain her fans. Was Miley Cyrus in the salvia video just having fun, and that's it? She may be sexier in her attire, but she's not a Lindsay Lohan. Not yet.

However, even some proponents of legalizing marijuana consider salvia a plant that should not be confused with the herb. Wrote the organizer of Free the Leaf at the Free the Leaf Facebook page, "..Cannabis is a much safer substance. Its prohibition causes people to try legal and sometimes tricky highs like salvia and k2. Cannabis shows no such negative effects."

Sources:

Miley Cyrus Bong-Smoking VIDEO Hits The Web, Pop Crunch

Billy Ray Cyrus Apologizes After Miley Bong Video Hits Web, OMG!

Dr. Drew On Miley Cyrus Bong Video: 'This Is A Child Who Is In Trouble', OMG!

Billy Ray Cyrus on Twitter

Barbara Poncelet, Salvia Divinorum: A Legal Trip, About.com

Free the Leaf on Facebook