Lactucarium is the milky fluid secreted by several species of lettuce, especially Lactuca virosa, usually from the base of the stems. Lactucarium is known as lettuce opium because of its sedative and analgesic properties. It has been reported to promote a mild sensation of euphoria, but Lactuca virosa is poisonous,^[1] and at least one fatality has occurred during an attempt to use it for intoxication.^[2][3] Because it is a latex, Lactucarium physically resembles opium, in that it is excreted as a white fluid and can be reduced to a thick smokable solid.

History[link]

"Lettuce Opium" was used by the Ancient Egyptians, and was introduced as a drug in the United States as early as 1799^[4] The drug was prescribed and studied extensively in Poland during the nineteenth century, and was viewed as an alternative to opium, weaker but lacking side-effects, and in some cases preferable. However, early efforts to isolate an active alkaloid were unsuccessful.^[5] It is described and standardized in the 1898 United States Pharmacopoeia^[6] and 1911 British Pharmaceutical Codex^[7] for use in lozenges, tinctures, and syrups as a sedative for irritable cough or as a mild hypnotic (sleeping aid) for insomnia. The standard definition of lactucarium in these codices required its production from Lactuca virosa, but it was recognized that smaller quantities of lactucarium could be produced in a similar way from Lactuca sativa and Lactuca canadensis var. elongata, and even that lettuce-opium obtained from Lactuca serriola or Lactuca quercina was of superior quality.^[8]

In the twentieth century, two major studies found commercial lactucarium to be without effect. In 1944, Fulton concluded, "Modern medicine considers its sleep producing qualities a superstition, its therapeutic action doubtful or nil." Another study of the time identified active bitter principles lactucin and lactucopicrin, but noted that these compounds from the fresh latex were unstable and did not remain in commercial preparations of lactucarium. Accordingly, lettuce opium fell from favor, until publications of the hippie movement began to promote it in the mid-1970s as a legal drug producing euphoria, sometimes compounded with catnip or damiana.^[9]

The seeds of lettuce have also been used to relieve pain. Lettuce seed was listed as an anaesthetic in Avicenna's The Canon of Medicine, which served as an authoritative medical textbook from soon after AD 1000 until the seventeenth century.^[10]

Contemporary use[link]

Although lactucarium has faded from general use as a pain reliever, it remains available, sometimes promoted as a legal psychotropic.

The seed of ordinary lettuce, Lactuca sativa, is still used in Avicenna's native Iran as a folk medicine, and a crude extract of the seeds was shown to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in standard formalin and carrageenan tests of laboratory rats. It was not toxic to the rats at a dose of 6 grams per kilogram^[11]

Mechanism[link]

Chemical compounds which occur in lettuce: (1) α-Lactucerol (=Taraxasterol); (2) β-Lactucerol (=Lactucon, Lactucerin); (3) Lactucin; (4) Lactucopicrin.

The active ingredients of lactucarium are believed to be lactucin and its derivatives lactucopicrin and 11β13-dihydrolactucin, which have been found to have analgesic activity equal or greater to that of ibuprofen in standard hot-plate and tail-flick tests of sensitivity to pain in laboratory mice. Lactucin and lactucropicrin were also found to have sedative activity in measurements of spontaneous movements of the mice.^[12] Some effects have also been credited to a trace of hyoscyamine in Lactuca virosa, but the alkaloid was undetectable in standard lactucarium.^[7]

Formulations[link]

Lactucarium was used unmodified in lozenges, 30-60 milligrams (0.5 to 1 grain), sometimes mixed with borax. However, it was found to be more efficient to formulate the drug in a cough syrup (Syrupus Lactucarii, U.S.P.) containing net 5% lactucarium, 22% glycerin, 5% alcohol, and 5% orange-flower water in syrup.^[7]

References[link]

1. ^ "Plants for a Future: Lactuca virosa". http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Lactuca+virosa. Retrieved 2007-05-28. 
2. ^ Cecil Adams (2005-01-07). "The Straight Dope". http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050107.html. Retrieved 2007-05-28. 
3. ^ Spadari, M; Pommier, P; Canioni, D; Arditti, J; David, JM; Valli, M (2003-04-26). "[Abuse of lactuca virosa]" (in French). Presse Med. 32 (15): 702–3. PMID 12762295. 
4. ^ http://www.wildlettuce.com/index.html#info
5. ^ Trojanowska, A. (2005). "Lettuce, lactuca sp., as a medicinal plant in polish publications of the 19th century" (in Polish). Kwart Hist Nauki Tech. 50 (3-4): 123–34. PMID 17153150. 
6. ^ Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. (1898). "King's American Dispensary:Tinctura Lactucarii (U. S. P.)—Tincture of Lactucarium". http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/lactuca_lact_tinc.html. Retrieved 2007-05-28. 
7. ^ ^{a b c} the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (1911). "Lactuca, Lactucarium". http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/bpc1911/lactuca.html. Retrieved 2007-05-27. 
8. ^ Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. (1898). "King's American Dispensary:Tinctura Lactucarii (U. S. P.)—Tincture of Lactucarium". http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/lactuca.html. Retrieved 2007-05-28. 
9. ^ "Lettuce opium". http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_lettuce_opium.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-28. 
10. ^ Richard Dean Smith (1980). "Avicenna and the Canon of Medicine: a millennial tribute". http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1272342. Retrieved 2005-07-07. 
11. ^ Sayyah M, Hadidi N, Kamalinejad M. (2004). "Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of Lactuca sativa extract in rats". J Ethnopharmacology 92(2-3):325-9 PMID 15138019 92 (2-3): 325. DOI:10.1016/j.jep.2004.03.016. PMID 15138019. 
12. ^ Wesolowska A, Nikiforuk A, Michalska K, Kisiel W, Chojnacka-Wojcik E. (2006-09-19). "Analgesic and sedative activities of lactucin and some lactucin-like guaianolides in mice.". J Ethnopharmacol 107 (2): 254–8. DOI:10.1016/j.jep.2006.03.003. PMID 16621374. 

Steve Buyer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 4th district
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Mark Souder
Succeeded by	Todd Rokita
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 5th district
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Jim Jontz
Succeeded by	Dan Burton
Personal details
Born	(1958-11-26) November 26, 1958 (age 53) Rensselaer, Indiana
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Joni Buyer
Residence	Monticello, Indiana
Alma mater	The Citadel, Valparaiso University
Occupation	Attorney
Religion	Methodist
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1984–1987 (active) 1980–present (reserve)
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Judge Advocate General's Corps
Battles/wars	Gulf War

Stephen Earle Buyer ( /ˈbuːjər/ BOO-yər;^[1][2] born November 26, 1958) is the former U.S. Representative for Indiana's 4th congressional district, and previously the 5th district, serving from 1993 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. Buyer holds the rank of Colonel in the United States Army Reserve.

On January 29, 2010, Buyer announced he would not seek a tenth term to the House.^[3]

Early life, education, and career[link]

Buyer was born in Rensselaer, Indiana. In 1976 he graduated from North White High School, where he had been class president.^[4] In 1980 he received a B.S. degree from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, and in 1984 he received a J.D. degree from the Valparaiso University School of Law.

Buyer served three years on active duty in the Army between 1984 and 1987. His first job civilian job, from 1987 to 1998, was as an Indiana state deputy attorney general; he then started his own private law practice.^[4] He was elected to the U.S. House of Representative in November 1992, at age 33.

Military career[link]

Buyer, as an Army reserve officer, had three years of active duty after graduating from law school in 1984. During the Gulf War (1990–1991), Buyer, then a captain, spent five months on active duty, giving legal counsel to commanders and interrogating Iraqi P.O.W.s.^[4]

On March 20, 2003, Buyer said to The United States Congress that "I have been called to active duty in the United States Army. Pending further orders, I request immediate indefinite leave of the United States House of Representatives to accommodate my military duties." He also said that "a need was identified, of which Congressman Buyer has the unique skill and experience to meet the requirements," to serve in Iraq. Claiming to be called to active duty, he took a leave of absence from Congress.^[5][6]

Buyer spent his paid absence from Congress in his home in Monticello Indiana. Ten days later, he said he had not been activated, contradicting his previous statement, and that he was returning to Congress. Defense Department rules, prevent those on active duty from campaigning for and holding elective office. Thus in June 2003, the Indianapolis Star reported that the Army, in a March 31 letter to Buyer signed by Army Secretary Thomas White, had rejected Buyer's offer to serve in the Iraq War because "we are able to meet the need without your participation," and "we are concerned that your presence would put in jeopardy the safety of those serving around you." ^[5]

In April 2004, Buyer was promoted to Colonel in the United States Army Reserve^[7]

U.S. Representative[link]

Committee assignments[link]

• Committee on Energy and Commerce(2001–2010)
  • Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet
  • Subcommittee on Health
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs (1993–2010)
  • Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee 109th Congress
  • Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee 110th and 111th Congresses
• House Committee on Judiciary 1993–1999
• House Armed Services Committee 1993–2001
  • Chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel 105th and 106th Congresses

Caucuses[link]

• National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus
  • Co-Chairman and Founder
• Congressional Automotive Caucus
• Congressional Steel Caucus

In 1998, Buyer served one of the House managers (prosecutors) in the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton.

Political positions[link]

Term limits[link]

In his 1992 campaign, Buyer supported bringing to a vote on the House floor a Congressional amendment for term limits on members of Congress. He voted for the measure and it received a majority of vote but not the 2/3 votes needed to pass.^[8]

Torture[link]

Buyer, who interrogated captured Iraqis during the Gulf War, voted against the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, specifically the no torture amendment offered by Senator John McCain. He reasoned that torture was already unlawful. He stated, "I think the people of Indiana need to know that there's a lot of grandstanding going on here, there's a lot of self-projection."^[9]

Smoking[link]

In June 2009, Buyer became the subject of some prime-time TV news attention when he likened the physical effects of smoking tobacco to those of smoking dried, rolled lettuce or grass when taking the floor against the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.^[10] He stated:

[Y]ou could have smoked that lettuce and you would still end up with the same problems. You could cut the grass in your yard, dry it and roll it up in a cigarette and smoke it, and you're still going to have a lot of problems. It is the smoke that kills, not the nicotine. It's the smoke.^[11]

Don't Ask, Don't Tell[link]

In May 2010, Buyer voted against congressional legislation to repeal the US Military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, which discharges gays and lesbians in the military, if their sexuality is discovered or revealed, and voiced an opinion that "It is very clear that homosexuality is incompatible with military service."

Healthcare[link]

In working to improve America’s health care system Buyer believes Congress should be focusing on what is broken with the current health care system and keep what is working and leave alone what Americans like about their health care and insurance, “So, when we talk about health care reform, we want to preserve that which is right, and we want to work on that which is wrong. When my Democrat colleagues of the leadership talk about health care reform, it's about a government-run, socialized health system. Let's reject that and let's work together.”^[12]

Political campaigns[link]

When Buyer first ran for Congress, in 1992, he faced three-term Democratic incumbent Jim Jontz in what was then the 5th District, comprising twenty mostly rural counties in north central Indiana. Republican Bud Hillis had represented the district for 16 years until his retirement in 1986. Jontz, then a state senator, was elected in the face of divided Republican opposition.^[4] Buyer defeated Jontz by just over 5,000 votes. Buyer was reelected four times from this district with an average of 62 percent of the vote.

In 2002, Buyer was redistricted into the newly created 4th District, made up of 12 counties in west central Indiana, after the state lost a district in the 2000s round of redistricting.^[13] Buyer had five opponents in the Republican primary, including fellow Republican congressman Brian Kerns.^[14] Buyer won with 55 percent of the primary vote.^[14] He easily won this heavily Republican district in November with 71 percent of the vote, and was reelected three more times after that with an average of 63 percent of the vote.

2008[link]

In November 2008, Buyer defeated Democrat Nels Ackerson, spending $895,000 compared to $845,000 by Ackerson. Buyer won with 60 percent of the vote.^[15]

2010 retirement[link]

On January 29, 2010, Buyer announced his retirement from Congress.

Campaign funds[link]

Between January 2006 and October 2009, the largest combined donations to Buyer's campaigns came from the pharmaceutical industry ($263,000), and the healthcare professional industry ($214,000).^[16] In recent years, his largest corporate donors have included Eli Lilly and Company, AT&T and Reynolds American.^[17]

Frontier Education Foundation[link]

In 2003, Buyer created The Frontier Education Foundation, whose stated purpose is educational funding for college students. The initial $25,000 to start the foundation came from the pharmaceutical lobbying organization PhRMA.^[18] The foundation was located in Buyer's campaign office until 2009, when after a complaint was filed, it moved to an office 3 blocks away. In addition, weeks before that interview, Buyer's campaign chairman, who had also managed the Foundation, ceased operating as the Foundation's director.^[18] She was receiving a salary from the foundation ranging $12,000-$17,000 a year. Buyer's daughter Colleen was the president of the foundation until August 1, 2009. His son Ryan, in 2009, was director of the foundation, according to filings with the Indiana Secretary of State ^[19]

In early October 2009, Buyer's press secretary referred questions to the foundation, saying "It's not Congressman Buyer's foundation," although the foundation shared an office with Buyer's campaign office in Monticello.^[20] Several days later, Buyer said he had created the foundation, with the goal of creating a sustainable organization to award scholarships to high school seniors.^[21]

As of the end of 2008, annual fundraising golf outings had raised more than $880,000 for the foundation. Almost all the contributions were from 20 companies and trade organizations that had interests before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, of which Buyer is a member. As of October 2009, the foundation had not awarded any scholarships, and had given out only $10,500 in charitable grants, almost half of which went to a cancer fund run by the chief Washington lobbyist for Eli Lilly and Company. Buyer said the foundation would need to raise at least $1 million to become self-sustaining; it would then begin awarding scholarships.

In June 2009, Buyer said "there is no connection" between his legislative actions and donations to the foundation. "I'm not an officer. I'm not a board director," he said of his role in the non-profit. "Do I help the foundation? Yes, I do. Do I help other charity groups? Yes, I do."^[19]

On January 25, 2010, CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) filed complaints against Rep. Buyer with the Office of Congressional Ethics and the IRS regarding possible ethics and federal tax law violations referencing The Frontier Education Foundation.^[22] The complaint was later dismissed.^[23]

Lobbyist[link]

In January 2011, Buyer became a lobbyist for McKesson Corp., despite being in a 'cooling off' period which prevents congressman from certain types of lobbying for at least a year after retirement from congress.^[24] Buyer had originally said he was leaving congress to spend more time with his wife, who has incurable autoimmune disease.^[3]

Personal life[link]

In 2008, in Golf Digest's list of the top 200 golfers among political power brokers in Washington, Buyer was ranked 32nd, with a handicap of 5.6.^[25]

Buyer's daughter Colleen was the president of the Frontier Foundation until August 1, 2009. In 2007, she graduated from Purdue University with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) ^[26]

Buyer's son Ryan received a business administration degree from Ball State University in 2008, and was hired in June 2008 as a federal affairs manager for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), a major lobbying organization in Washington, D.C., and the largest donor to the foundation.^[27] His position is just one step above an entry-level position, according to Ken Johnson, a senior vice president with PhRMA. "He's not a lobbyist. He researches legislation and writes reports," Johnson said.^[28] He first worked for PhRMA as an intern while in college.^[27] Johnson said that Ryan “went through the formal interview process, and he was brought on at the lowest rung of the organization as an intern and demonstrated a lot of willingness to learn and a great work ethic." ^[27]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Steve Buyer for Congress official campaign site
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On the Issues
• Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Collected news and commentary at The New York Times

v t e Chairmen of the United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Rogers Rankin Rogers Teague Dorn Roberts Montgomery Stump Smith Buyer Filner Miller