"It's Herbal. It won't hurt you!"

I starting hearing people talking like this in the 1960s, maybe around 1963 when I was 15. But, it's bullshit then and now.

Did anyone ever tell you the story of how some of the first people from the U.S. government visiting California just grabbed a stick from a bush to stir their stew at their campsite (this likely was the 1840s). However, they grabbed an Oleander stick from an oleander bush which grow wild in California. What happened?

Just from stirring their food with this stick it killed 9 to 11 people that night.

So much for "If it is herbal it won't kill you." in regard to illicit substances.

However, it is also true that synthetic substances are much much more likely to kill you than herbal ones too.

But, just like when I was in High School from 1963 to 1966 if someone says to you, "It's herbal so it won't hurt you" please remember the oleander story that killed 9 to 11 people then in the 1840s.

Since anything (bugs, animals insects everyone) that eats oleander dies you will see it often planted in California in Freeway medians. It's flowers are beautiful pink and white blossoms especially. But, if you eat those blossoms you also will die.

Some flowers can be eaten like probably rose petals and orchids and a few others, but Oleander blooms if you eat you are just going to die.