LSD

Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly know as LSD, is the granddaddy of psychedelics. The main psychoactive ingredient in LSD is lysergic acid, which comes from ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. LSD is considered a semisynthetic drug because lysergic acid is a naturally occurring compound and not something made in a laboratory. But people who want to feel the effects of LSD cannot simply eat rye seeds and wait for them to work. The seeds must be extracted through a chemical process.

LSD is a powerful hallucinogenic substance that can produce a wide range of effects on a person's perception, thoughts, and feelings. These effects can vary from person to person and depend on factors such as the dose, individual differences, and the setting in which the drug is taken. Here are some of the common effects of LSD:

• Altered States: LSD can cause profound changes in sensory perception. Colors may appear more vibrant, and ordinary objects can take on unusual shapes and patterns. Some people report "seeing" music or experiencing synesthesia, where senses like hearing and vision become interconnected.

•  Hallucinations: Visual, auditory, and even tactile hallucinations can occur, which means seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not actually there. These hallucinations can range from subtle distortions to intense and vivid experiences.

• Mood Swings: LSD can lead to rapid and intense shifts in mood. Users may experience euphoria, joy, and a sense of connection with the world, but they can also have negative emotions, such as anxiety, paranoia, and confusion.

• Altered Sense of Time: Time distortion is common. Minutes can feel like hours, and hours can pass in what seems like seconds.

• Ego Dissolution: Some users report a loss of a sense of self or ego, leading to feelings of unity with the universe or a sense of interconnectedness with others and the world.

• Enhanced Creativity: Many users report heightened creativity and a different perspective on problems or artistic endeavors while under the influence of LSD.

• Spiritual or Mystical Experiences: Some people describe profound, spiritual, or mystical experiences while on LSD, which can be deeply meaningful and transformative.

• Physical Effects: LSD can also have physical effects, including increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, dilated pupils, and changes in body temperature. Nausea is also possible, especially during the early stages of the experience.

• Sensory Overload: In some cases, sensory overload can occur, leading to a feeling of being overwhelmed by external stimuli, which can be distressing.

• Flashbacks: initial use. These are spontaneous, brief re-experiences of the drug's effects and can be unsettling for some individuals.

It's important to note that while many people may have positive or enjoyable experiences with LSD, there is also a potential for negative reactions and "bad trips." The effects of LSD are highly dependent on the individual's mental state, the environment, and their emotional well-being at the time of use. Additionally, the illegal nature of LSD means that there is a risk of getting a substance that is impure or contaminated, which can lead to unpredictable and dangerous effects.

HISTORY

Albert Hofmann, a researcher with the Swiss chemical company Sandoz, first developed lysergic acid diethylamide or LSD in 1938. He was experimenting with a chemical in a fungus found naturally on rye and other grains called Ergot.

Hofmann wasn’t originally aware that the drug could generate hallucinogenic effects until 1943 when he accidentally ingested a small amount and experience what he called “extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors.” A few days later, on April 19, 1943, he formulated and took a large does. As Hofmann rode home on his bicycle he experienced the world’s first intentional acid trip.

Years later, April 19 came to be celebrated by some recreational LSD users as Bicycle Day.

Ken Kesey, author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, was a volunteer for MK-Ultra experiments with LSD while he was a college student at Stanford University. He became the hero of the counter-culture revolution and the hippie movement of the 1960’s by hosting LSD-fueled parties that he called “Acid Tests.”

Acid Tests were events with musical performances by bands including the Grateful Dead and psychedelic effects such as fluorescent paint and black lights where everyone had access to LSD. These parties influenced the early development of hippie culture and kick-started the 1960s psychedelic drug scene.

Other notable people who reportedly volunteered for CIA-backed experiments with LSD include Robert Hunter, the Grateful Dead lyricist;  Ted Kacznski, better known as the “Unabomber”; and Whitey Bulger, the notorious Boston mobster.

Timothy Leary brought LSD into the mainstream and was an advocate of using LSD and other hallucinogens during the 1960’s. His work and beliefs had a major impact on the counterculture movement and exploration of altered states of consciousness. Leary was a Harvard University psychologist and lecturer in the early 1960’s. He initially conducted research into the effects of psilocybin on human consciousness when it was still legal and believed LSD had the potential to expand human consciousness and promote personal and spiritual growth. He coined the famous phrase “Turn on, tune in, drop out” as a slogan for his advocacy. The phrase encouraged people to explore altered states of consciousness, question societal norms, and disconnect from conventional life.

LSD became a symbol of the 1960s counterculture. In 1963 Kesey drove from California to New York in a bus called Further with Neal Cassady and the Merry Pranksters dispensing LSD wherever they stopped. The drug greatly affected the current pop culture, especially music and art. LSD was a significant influence that helped to characterize the fine arts aspect of pop culture in the 1960s and 1970s. 

Leary's promotion of LSD and his experiments with the drug at Harvard led to conflicts with the university administration and legal authorities. He was eventually dismissed from Harvard, and LSD was classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States in 1965, making it illegal.

After being dismissed from Harvard, Leary continued to promote LSD and other psychedelic substances. He traveled extensively and engaged in international activities related to drug advocacy. He was arrested on multiple occasions for drug-related offenses. In court, Leary gave his occupation as "president of a religious organization-- the League of Spiritual Discovery, which communes by means of LSD, peyote, and marijuana--and he promptly began to proselytize.

"The United States is an insane asylum. LSD is the only solution for a world facing warfare and rioting," he told reporters. "In ten years," he prophesized, "20 to 30 million Americans will be using LSD regularly."

Leary's ideas and advocacy had a significant impact on the 1960s counterculture movement. He was seen as a guru of sorts, and his ideas about expanding consciousness and rejecting conventional values resonated with many young people of the era. His advocacy of LSD and other psychedelics left a lasting mark on the cultural and social movements of the 1960s and continues to be a topic of discussion and debate in the context of drug policy and the exploration of altered states of consciousness.