LSD is a powerful mind altering substance that can not only change one’s consciousness but also an entire society. It created it’s own culture, and without it America wouldn’t be the same.
LSD-25, or d-lysergic acid diethylamide, is a fairly common and remarkably powerful psychoactive drug. This semi synthetic hallucinogen was first synthesized in 1938 by Albert Hofman. It is almost always taken orally, by way of sugar cubes, infused into treats, or more commonly in blotters. It is very strong at low doses, and it was the famous drug that changed America drastically in the 1960’s.
LSD-25 was first synthesized in 1938 from ergotamine, a chemical derived from ergot, which is a fungus that grows on grains, typically rye. LSD is not physically addictive, but it can be psychologically addictive. This means that if you get very used to being high on LSD, if you stop taking it there will be a noticeable difference, like you’d feel like part of your brain is gone.
LSD is a very powerful drug in terms of how much of the substance is needed to get high. It is very powerful at low doses. Below is a chart showing LSD doses by microgram.
LSD Oral Dosages
Amount (in micrograms)
Threshold
20 ug
Light
25 ug - 75 ug
Common
50 ug - 150 ug
Strong
150 ug - 400 ug
Heavy
400 + ug
LSD is most commonly taken in paper blotters, which are made of decorated absorbent paper divided into ¼ inch squares, called tabs. A typical tab can carry anywhere from 30 ug to 100 ug of LSD. Paper blotters are typically of decorated and perforated absorbent paper and dipped in a dilution of lysergic acid diethylamide. The potency of the dilution can vary greatly depending on the batch and who made it. LSD is soluble (can dissolve) in water and ot...
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...ure, and without it America wouldn’t be the same.
Bibliography
"Lysergic Acid Diethylamide." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Nov. 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
From this source I learned specifically about the medicinal uses of LSD and how its potential adverse effects.
"How LSD Works." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
From this source I learned how LSD is made and how it affects your brain.
"Erowid LSD (Acid) Vault." Erowid LSD (Acid) Vault. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
From this source I learned everything I’ll ever need to know about LSD.
"LSD: Penalties for Sale and Possession." Find a Lawyer. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013
Here I learned about the legal punishment of LSD related crimes.
"History of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Jan. 2013. Web. 08 Dec. 2013
Here I learned about LSD’s past.
Two broad categories of psychoactive drugs are licit and illicit drugs. Licit drugs are legal to be in a person's possession, sold by a manufacturer or salesperson, and distributed by appropriate personnel such as tobacco or alcohol (Bethel, 2016). Illicit drugs are illegal to be in possession by a person, illegal to distribute and sell and are illegal to manufacture drugs of this nature such as cocaine (Levinthal, 2016).
Early studies proposed that LSD antagonized the effects of serotonin on peripheral tissues. It was later proposed that the psychoactive properties of LSD may be a result of the blocking of serotonin receptors in the central nervous system (Nichols, 2004). This theory was short-lived however when it was discovered that a brominated derivative of LSD (BOL),a potent serotonin antagonist in peripheral tissues, was found to have essentially no LSD like effects. In 1961, Freedman found that systematic use of LSD elevated serotonin content in the brain (cited in Nichols, 2004). In a later study in 1967, Rosencrans, et al. reported that LSD also reduced brain levels of acetic acid (5-HIAA) (cited in Nichols, 2004).
LSD has proved that the mind contains much higher powers and energies, beyond the average10% of the brain that a typical human uses. These powers and energies, under the right circumstances, can be taken advantage of to benefit human kind spiritually, creatively, therapeutically, and intellectually. LSD has given human kind the option to chemically trigger mental energies and powers. Arguments that LSD is potentially a dangerous discovery and mind control should be strictly prohibited by the government holds much validity, although there are benefits and arguments of personal freedom of neurology to consider. Whether LSD reflects negativity as a weapon and mind control drug, or radiates euphoria as a mind-expanding chemical and sacrament, the choice to engage in such an experience should be through personal reasoning. It is not the states and other bureaucracies’ duties to take control of the human brain and body.
5)Groff, S. Realms of the Human Unconcious: Observations from LSD Research. Jeremy Tarcher Inc., LA. 1980, pp 87-99.
The French were the first to start experimenting on chemical agents in 1912. They first used it on their people as riot control to capture criminals that who had robbed a bank. They used 26 millimeter grenades filled with chemical agents into the center of the group criminals they were attempting to apprehend. It was not said if it was effective but continued to look into using it for other means. However, the Germans at this time had not been interested in producing any kinds of chemical weapons.
A largely debated topic in today's society is whether or not psychedelic drugs should be legalized for medicinal purposes and if they should, how this legalization would affect the communities in which they’re being prominently medicinally used. Although many scientists have argued that psychedelics pose a mental health risk, closer examination shows that communities would have a significantly lower depression rate if certain psychedelics were legalized. Now to fully understand how psychedelics could be beneficial or the opposite thereof, you’ll need to understand how they work and what they are. What a psychedelic drug is, the immediate effects, both mentally and physically, and how communities might benefit and function with the sudden use of these drugs.
Brecher, Edward M. (1972) Licit and Illicit Drugs; The Consumers Union Report on narcotics, stimulants, depressants, inhalants, Hallucinogens, and marijuana- including caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. New York, 291-390
LSD stands for Iysergic acid diethylamide. LSD is a hallucinate know to be the most powerful drug of this kind. LSD is commonly known as acid. This drug changes a person’s mental state by distorting the perception of reality to the point where at high doses hallucination occurs. Acid is derived from a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. It is semi-synthetic. It’s manufactured chemically in illicit laboratories, except for a small percent, which is produced legally for research.
"The father of MDMA -- or 'stepfather' as he describes himself- is Alexander Shulgin (Saunders)." This man is responsible for the modern research of MDMA. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a Ph.D. in biochemistry, Shulgin then received a research job with Dow Chemicals (The Invention). Sometime in 1965 Shulgin synthesized MDMA, but he did not try it himself, yet (Erowid). Then somewhere around 1968 he began working with MDMA personally and introducing it to other people (Erowid). But, it wasn't until he heard raving reviews from other experimenters who has also synthesized and tried MDMA that he began his own experiments (Saunders). "Shulgin is also the first reported human to use MDMA (The Invention).
Smoking DMT is a life changing event. Although it is highly illegal, it is also harmless and produced naturally within the brain. Sadly, many people have never even heard of DMT, and therefore may be highly uninformed of the drug, if they know anything about it at all. Also, due to it being illegal, it is very hard for research to be done on the drug. DMT is no ‘party drug’; it is absolutely not to be used simply for the purpose of ‘tripping out’. It is to be used for a spiritual experience, to become one with the universe, and truly find yourself.
Hofmann, A. (1970, January 1). The Discovery of LSD. The Discovery of LSD. Retrieved May 12, 2014, from http://www.psychedelic-library.org/hofmann.htm
Since the 1930’s LSD has been a topic of discussion. LSD is known as one of the most controversial drugs ever created. Everything about the drug is mysterious and does not follow the norm of society. Users of LSD are people from solid middle- and upper-class backgrounds. They have many opportunities to pursue higher education and to have successful careers (Petechuk 9). To most, this statistic would seem unearthly, but LSD is notorious for giving keen insights to life, which is the main interest for consumers. The components of LSD are lysergic acid and diethylamide. LSD is often classified as a synthetic drug because it is produced only in a laboratory (Petechuk 10). Addiction is a recurrence for many drugs with the exception of LSD. “LSD is not considered an addictive drug because it does not produce the same compulsive drug-seeking behavior as cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, alcohol, or nicotine” (Everything).
Using hallucinogens is often called tripping. In its pure form, LSD is a white, odorless powder. This pure form is very strong, so LSD is usually mixed with other things to make the dose large enough to take. LSD comes in the form of liquids, tablets, capsules or squares of gelatin or blotting paper. LSD use can have many effects.
Nichols, D. E., & Chemel, B. R. (2011). LSD and the serotonin system's effects on human
Hippocrates' authority lasted throughout the Middle Ages and reminded alchemists and medical experimenters of the potential of inorganic drugs. In fact, a distant descendant of Hippocrates' prescriptions was the use of antimony salts in elixirs (alcoholic solutions) advocated by Basilius Valentius in the middle of the 15th century and by the medical alchemist Phillippus Aureolus Paracelsus (born Theophrastus Bombast von Hohenheim, in Switzerland, 1493-1541).