Happy 80th birthday, LSD.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

{For some reason, I had originally said, "Happiest 80th birthday, LSD." I'm not sure how that happened.}

I'll have to take the word of others on the effects, as I never partook. I think that in my case, that was a good choice. Maybe now I could, but back then? No.

Albert Hofmann

Not to be confused with Abbie Hoffman.

Albert Hofmann (11 January 1906 – 29 April 2008) was a Swiss scientist known best for being the first person to synthesize, ingest, and learn of the psychedelic effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Hofmann was also the first person to isolate, synthesize, and name the principal psychedelic mushroom compounds psilocybin and psilocin. He authored more than 100 scientific articles and numerous books, including LSD: Mein Sorgenkind (LSD: My Problem Child).[2] In 2007, he shared first place with Tim Berners-Lee in a list of the 100 greatest living geniuses, published by The Daily Telegraph newspaper.
....

Discovery of LSD

Main article: Discovery of LSD

Hofmann became an employee of the pharmaceutical/chemical department of Sandoz Laboratories (now a subsidiary of Novartis), located in Basel as a coworker with professor Arthur Stoll, founder and director of the pharmaceutical department. He began studying the medicinal plant Drimia maritima (squill) and the fungus ergot, as part of a program to purify and synthesize active constituents for use as pharmaceuticals. His main contribution was to elucidate the chemical structure of the common nucleus of the Scilla glycosides (an active principal of Mediterranean squill). While researching lysergic acid derivatives, Hofmann first synthesized LSD on 16 November 1938. The main intention of the synthesis was to obtain a respiratory and circulatory stimulant (analeptic) with no effects on the uterus in analogy to nikethamide (which is also a diethylamide) by introducing this functional group to lysergic acid. It was set aside for five years, until 16 April 1943, when Hofmann decided to reexamine it. While re-synthesizing LSD, he accidentally touched his hand to his mouth, nose or possibly eye, ingesting a small amount, and discovered its powerful effects. He described what he felt as being:

... affected by a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness. At home I lay down and sank into a not unpleasant intoxicated[-]like condition, characterized by an extremely stimulated imagination. In a dreamlike state, with eyes closed (I found the daylight to be unpleasantly glaring), I perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors. After some two hours this condition faded away.

Three days later, on 19 April 1943, Hofmann intentionally ingested 250 micrograms of LSD. This day is now known as "Bicycle Day", because he began to feel the effects of the drug as he rode home on a bike. This was the first intentional LSD trip.

Hofmann continued to take small doses of LSD throughout much of his life, and always hoped to find a use for it. In his memoir, he emphasized it as a "sacred drug": "I see the true importance of LSD in the possibility of providing material aid to meditation aimed at the mystical experience of a deeper, comprehensive reality."

Here's Kouchu-Gakudan, the terrific Beatles tribute band, performing a song about a girl with kaleidoscope eyes:

And how could I leave this out?

[PJMcK]

1. Time to celebrate! (n/t)

[Socal31]

2. How interesting it would be if the urban legend "flashbacks" were all timed for today....

[Runningdawg]

3. I am very glad my time was during the golden days

I don't know that I could have a good trip nowadays. I don't think I could ever trust a cook who has never taken a chemistry class and got the recipe off the dark web.
No regrets, or unwanted health effects, from what at times were massive amounts, I still believe it made my life better.
These days I will stick to nibbling on a few mushrooms occasionally.

[mitch96]

4. Ahhh shades of Tim Leary and Richard Alpert

AKA Babba Ramdas.. Good times and glad I'm still alive!!
m

[Bradshaw3]

5. It was a positive for me, for a time

It was a different time back in the 60s and 70s when I did it, probably a hundred times. There were a lot of good feelings going around in the time and place I took it. I wouldn't take it now at age 65 (some of the legal pot nowadays will get you tripping as much as some of the low grade acid back then).

BTW, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds wasn't about acid. Came from Lennon reading Alice in Wonderland to Julian.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_in_the_Sky_with_Diamonds


It definitely opened the doors of perception for me. Joe Friday was right, it was the bomb.

[brush]

6. You're right about the weed nowadays. It's much, much stronger than...

run of the mill pot back in the day. It's more like an acid trip and the high lasts about as long.

Who has time for that now?

As far as acid if you have the time, put aside a day and try it, but at a low dose. It gives one a mind broadening perspective on things and isn't additive.

[Bradshaw3]

7. I had many experiences with psychedelics

I wrote in my post that I had tried acid about one hundred times and know all about what one experiences.

[brush]

8. Oh, I know. I wasn't reccing it to you, but to others. I really responded...

to your post to agree that the pot out now is so much stronger than back in the day (unless of course you had access to what was then call flower tops).

[Bradshaw3]

9. All good and good advice

I wish more people would use pot and psychedelics - with caution and with experienced mentors - and we would have a lot less anger, anxiety, alcohol and opiod abuse and less fear in this country.

[Yavin4]

10. And thanks for all of the great music! n/t