For those of you that listen to the BBC, you've probably already heard....
--- There's been a rash of thefts of hydrangea flowers in France (especially).
People are smoking them!

NOT a good idea, says Professor Monique Simmonds of Kew Gardens.

According to her interview, smoking the flowers does induce an initial "high", and also releases hydrogen cyanide, a very toxic chemical similar to what was used in Nazi concentration camp gas chambers. The bad effects come a little later....

What about the daisies? That was just to get your attention.... (a play on words, at least of those who remember Doris Day)

I'll be sure and wash my hands the next time I trim the 'Handrangia'!

Has anyone tried Lions tail?

There are many plants with psychotropic properties to them. Best to research and use with caution.

Cough!

just kidding

Heh, I once tried to sell some morning glory seeds on an on-line site. Got some VERY strange emails. I had not realized there was a, ahem, pharmaceutical interest in them.

Likewise, I once grew Delosperma bosserianum. I thought it would be a neat plant, since I could grow it and expose the caudex.
The majority of google entries are the "medicinal" type.

It's a fun plant to grow, though, and ridiculously easy.

Sigh, I didn't realize I'd led such a sheltered life.

that would be me....didn't know that incense covered the smell of pot...son liked to burn incense so I made sure he got some for birthdays and Christmas. DUH

My son worries when I talk about my salvia...apparently there is more to it than the lovely flowers.

Oh my.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S...

We have datura that grows everywhere around here. Stories abound that at least once a year someone is found naked and babbling along the roads.

A few years ago the stores on the boardwalk in Ocean City MD were selling salvia. I'm not sure in what form, but it was definitely being used for smoking. I don't remember which salvia though. They quickly put a stop to it if I remember correctly.

This site is scarily organized albeit very interesting on this subject, and many of these plants are in my gardens. I just love them for their beauty. :smily:
http://www.erowid.org/

The site is fascinating from my gardeners perspective anyway.

I remember reading some years ago about a problem with teenagers here in Florida who were making a tea like drink from Angel's Trumpets (Brugmansia) to get high and read once of someone dying from the concoction! I've always wondered what possesses some people to do such things. Marilyn posted information at the bottom of the parent plant page regarding the toxic properties of Brugmansia.

I guess its like anti depressants and pain pills for some. So sad indeed.

There have also been some unfortunate mishaps when folks have mis-identified wild plants for edibles. Again, knowledge and caution are so important. David, my son steered to that that erowid site years ago when I first began my herb garden - interesting information not always included in main-stream herb books.

Its good that people now can be alert about the dangerous plant and flowers used for smoking

I always knew when GD was smoking pot. Finally I told her she wasnt fooling anyone because I was alive and well in the '70's. Like most young people they think grey hair means all the brain cells have leaked out.I find out a lot knowing what questions to ask naive kids.
I think kids just are fascinated in the altered state they achieve when snorting Cinnamon,smoking weed or drinking Morning Glory tea plus any latest over the counter thing they find. Too bad they aren't cautious and some die from curiosity.

Snorting Cinnamon???? Wow, that's a new one to me ... I guess I do lead a sheltered life!

I remember a few years ago when my allergies were bad and I went to Walgreens to buy Sudafed tablets (which I remembered taking years before that helped.) There was a little sign on the shelf with stacks of little cards saying to take one of the cards to the pharmacy for purchase. I took a card to the pharmacy where the lady told me that laws don't allow sudafed to be out on the shelf anymore, that they have to keep it under lock and key because people have been abusing it's use. I also had to sign for it ... she said they keep track of how often people buy it!! Later I was telling someone about my experience and they told me it was because Sudafed is one of the ingredient's some people used in making a more powerful substance for abusing!