Salvia divinorum and Spice are both legally sold products that, when smoked, induceeffects similar to those of marijuana.

The order comes shortly after Marine Corps Forces Pacific issued a similar order restricting the use of the same substances.

‘‘When MARFORPAC issued a command order [banning these substances, it] covered the West Coast units,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Greer, the staff judge advocate for TECOM.

Although many TECOM units are located aboard the different MARFORPAC installations, there was some ambiguity about whether or not those units fell within the scope of the MARFORPAC order.

TECOM leaders had to decide whether there was enough use of the substance within the TECOM detachments to necessitate drafting a separate order for those units. Greerfound detachment commanders were having trouble with Marines purchasing Spice and salvia for the purpose of getting high.

‘‘What we ended up seeing is that thesedetachment commanders were in fact seeing Marines going out and purchasing Spice and salvia ... at head shops,” Greer said. ‘‘They're engaging in behavior that is affecting good order and discipline.

Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, ‘‘a commanding officer has the authority to prohibit activity that affects good order and discipline, and also [activity] that affects the welfare, moral and readiness of his Marines. That's the legal standard for issuing an order.”

While the Marine Corps' drug policy provides guidelines for commanders to handle various substance abuse cases, the fact that these substances are not controlled by the federal government allows them to slip through the cracks of the Corps’ policy.

‘‘The order says that when you use a lawful substance unlawfully you violated the drug policy,” Greer said.

The legal use of an aerosol can full of whipped cream is to distribute whipped cream. Once aMarine huffs the fumes from the can to get high, he is using a lawful substance unlawfully.

‘‘Now take salvia,” Greer said. ‘‘Salvia is lawful. What’s its lawful use? To get high.”

According to a March 2009 report from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Spice is comprised of a mixture of herbs and synthetic compounds, such as HU-210, which mimic tetrahydrocannabinol. Tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly known as THC, is thepsychotropic chemical found in marijuana. HU-210 is a Schedule I drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse.

Salvia divinorum, also sold in tobacco shops and through online stores, is a naturally occurring plant that contains the chemical Salvinorin A. Salvinorin A is the chemical in the plant that produces the hallucinogeniceffects. Though the plant is not controlled on the federal level, many states have banned its sale and others have enacted restrictions on its distribution.

While the TECOM order affects a larger number of active-duty Marines, it is far from the first time these substances have been banned within the Marine Corps. Regulations restricting the use of these products can be found as early as September 2008 in a Marine Corps Bases Japan order.

Ultimately, the substances are banned to keep Marines safe and allow units to accomplish the mission of the Marine Corps.

‘‘We hope that the word is getting out that these are substances that, [although] we really don't know how bad they are, [are] affecting units where they're being used,” Greer said. ‘‘And that's good enough for us. We're going to take some steps to control it.”

— Correspondent: sean.cummins@usmc.mil