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Albert Hofmann, inventor of LSD, dies.

telegraph.co.uk — Albert Hofmann, who died on Tuesday aged 102, synthesised lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in 1938 and became the first person in the world to experience a full-blown acid trip. RIP Hofmann.

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  • djlaunchpad, on 04/30/2008, -12/+228Farewell Dr. Hofmann. You are at the Ultimate and Final Trip. Thanks for for all that you have done!! :)
    • cardyology, on 04/30/2008, -8/+14God rest his soul.
    • aidave, on 04/30/2008, -6/+16Albert Hoffman was an angel. Thank you for all the good you brought to the world!
    • MrSlumberjack, on 04/30/2008, -27/+5I don't know how else to say it, but that was pretty lame.
    • givemereplay, on 04/30/2008, -58/+10What the ***** are you thanking him for? In what way is LSD a contribution to humanity? Because you like to get stoned? Thank the inventor of the computer or something useful, not a ***** purveyor of psychedelic drugs you pathetic weasel.
      • purewwfrage, on 04/30/2008, -5/+32Your ignorance boggles the mind. Don't pass judgment on something you clearly know jack ***** about.
      • peligro18, on 04/30/2008, -5/+7seriusly once u took lsd you see life diferently besides it helps u put all that ***** behind...everybody has ***** inside that cant let go... so talking about lsd like is pot just makes you look stupid...
      • Maxmaxxwell, on 04/30/2008, -2/+9It's ignorance like this that holds society back.
        Educate yourself before you bash a topic, jackass
        • wiggles, on 04/30/2008, -14/+5Holding society back, yes -- from falling off a cliff.

          LSD is proven to cause brain damage and psychosis in a high percentage of those who take it, which is why it's illegal and stupid for people to experiment with. Educate yourself before you claim someone else's ignorance.

          However, I heard on NPR this morning that the good doctor was quoted as saying he invented it as a medicine, and though unfortunate, it wasn't his fault that people abused it. He clearly saw the middle ground for the use of his invention.
          • 10lbhammer, on 04/30/2008, -2/+9*****. there are no studies "proving" that lsd causes brain damage and psychosis, much less in a "high percentage of those who take it."

            you fail, friend.
          • serend, on 04/30/2008, -3/+5[Citation Needed]
          • misguidedmonkey, on 04/30/2008, -3/+2This video shows pretty good proof. It looks like a show from BBC network on LSD. It aired about a month ago.

            www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOU8GIRUd_g
      • avenu420, on 04/30/2008, -1/+17Yeah, LSD had such a bad effect on Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs...they're such ***** losers nowadays.
      • wishninja, on 04/30/2008, -1/+2What a shameless troll you are.
      • jwoelmer2, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3I'm just wondering if you actually read the article; it basically says that he wanted to look for medical reasons to use it, but SOMEONE ELSE by the name of Leary took it and made it readily available for others.
        • Winston84, on 04/30/2008, -1/+2hehe, what this moralizing article doesn't mention is that Hofmann dropped acid himself ..
          You think he was doing that because he had the flu ?
      • trumpydumpy, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1Sounds like someone is bitter about life. I suggest trying LSD sometime, maybe your hateful view of the world will change. And just so you know, Albert Hofmann was not a "purveyor" of LSD, he invented it. And Sandoz gave away free samples to interested parties for a long time, and so did many people in the 60s and even today.
        • givemereplay, on 05/02/2008, -1/+1Bitter because I don't want to do drugs? Is it really so difficult to understand that I don't want to pollute my mind and body with psychedelic substances? Blow your hippie moral relativism and drug based chastisement out of your ass.
          • avenu420, on 05/02/2008, -0/+3It wouldn't hurt to be more open-minded about things. LSD has had more of an impact on society than you think, IMHO.
          • petrikigor, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2In response to your first comment, LSD has provide much to the medical and scientific world, including but not limited to increase in knowledge of how the mind works, specifically diseases such as schizophrenia and autism. Additionally, it was used successfully in the psychiatric field, by those who knew how, to effectively help individuals deal with their problems. It was also shown to cure or reduce addiction to alcohol, a much more debilitating drug than LSD could ever be.

            Furthermore, LSD and other psychedelics influenced many people who later went on to invent many of the comforts which you are taking for granted at this very moment. It is debatable whether or not these would exist had LSD not come to exist, however either way the world would be a wholly less interesting place without LSD's influence.

            You see there is something about the profound effects evoked by this neurotransmitter agonist, after recovering from which, allows one to look past the meaningless and empty facade of the societies we live in, and see the true nature and beauty of our existence. The LSD trip is a truly mind blowing experience, unlike anything you can experience without it; nor is it for the faint of heart. However, those who are ready to venture, and there have been and will be many, come back truly better people.

            I do not chastise you for not trying this substance, as you are obviously not ready. However, as was previously stated, you cannot pass judgment on this thing, which you have obviously not experienced, or chastise the individuals who have. To argue the evils of an experience you have not had is wholly unwise. We have been down the rabbit hole and our experiences are undeniable.
          • trumpydumpy, on 05/03/2008, -0/+1"Blow your hippie moral relativism and drug based chastisement out of your ass."
            Once again, you need to stop the hatred. Drugs are a great way to do that. I'm not saying that all drugs are created equal, and that all drugs are good. If you tried meth or coke you probably would become an even angrier person than you already are. However if you tried LSD or Mushrooms or even Marijuana let's say, you most likely would have a renewed sense of faith in this world, you would feel a connection with your brothers and sisters on this planet, and realize that you can't go around hating people all the time.
      • petrikigor, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1And in reference to your comment on collegial douche bags, see comment by WiseWeasel (below): "it's been my experience that the vast majority turn out to be successful adults and professionals (myself included). LSD is not a habit-forming substance; it's something you typically try once or a few times in your whole life, as it can hardly be described as a recreational experience. Taking LSD is not for the faint-of-heart."
        The large majority of these "collegial douche bags", myself included, will probably come out as successful if not more successful than you. And what may I ask, do you do that is so much better than "pushing paper"?
    • DanShapiro, on 04/30/2008, -9/+120Just another example of a life cut short by drugs.
      • franklymister, on 04/30/2008, -4/+21I can't believe I just dugg you down by mistake. I missed the sarcasm. That was brilliant, actually.
        • omgitsmit, on 04/30/2008, -2/+8It's ok, i dugg up so it evens out :)
      • moush, on 04/30/2008, -10/+3He mostly only did pure LSD, not being cut with anything. Most LSD on the street is not safe, so have fun dying early. Inventing a drug and doing it a few times =/= drug addict.
        • DanShapiro, on 04/30/2008, -1/+6I'm not going to dignify that with a lack of a response.
        • quizmaster520, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1Good thing no one is talking about drug addicts, just users.
          Also, just a little fyi: it's very hard to put adulterants on an LSD blotter, so it's pretty safe in that sense. ;)
          • petrikigor, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1yeah, there are few drugs that are active in quite the quantities LSD is active in. And LSD is not addicting, even the government admits this.
    • killerkabuki, on 04/30/2008, -0/+11http://www.erowid.org/culture/characters/hofmann_a ...

      Go here for more info on his life and work
    • Nefphilim, on 04/30/2008, -1/+17The beauty of Dr. Hofmann's discovery is corroborated by the perspective he held on to throughout his career. A gentleman, a scholar, and the catalyst to nearly a century of great music!
    • ligyron, on 04/30/2008, -20/+5I didn't know so many digg users did acid...I mean, what the *****, Digg?
      • dmsean, on 04/30/2008, -2/+13people in general ligron...*people in general*....LSD is the modern spritual experience...
        • wiggles, on 04/30/2008, -6/+2If you think 'people in general' drop acid on a regular basis, I would like to see who you see as 'people in general.' Usually that phrase means 'the people I come in contact with' although you don't realize it. I highly doubt LSD is as widely used as you think.
        • quizmaster520, on 05/01/2008, -1/+3And what makes your perspective any better than his?
      • joe122370, on 04/30/2008, -8/+3there's a bunch of losers sitting in their parent's basements getting high and posting on Digg
        • wishninja, on 04/30/2008, -0/+3actually douche bag most are in Universities. Stereotyping is an idiots game.
          • givemereplay, on 05/02/2008, -1/+1congratulations on your drug induced "religious" trip, collegial douche bag. I'm sure mummy and daddy are proud that you're putting their hard earned cash to good use- by self inducing a hollow, meaningless experience. Way to go. Enjoy your job pushing paper.
        • Winston84, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3Can you guys make up your minds ?
          "givemereplay" says people drop acid to "get stoned" , you say it's to get high.
          Oh well, at least it's always easy to spot who knows anything about LSD and who doesn't ..
      • WiseWeasel, on 04/30/2008, -2/+4Acid is (relatively) big on the West Coast, especially among the geek community, groups which are both heavily represented on Digg. It's unsurprising that those who are more curious in nature (tend to be geeks) are more likely to try such an exploratory drug as LSD. There's nothing wrong with that, however, and it's been my experience that the vast majority turn out to be successful adults and professionals (myself included). LSD is not a habit-forming substance; it's something you typically try once or a few times in your whole life, as it can hardly be described as a recreational experience. Taking LSD is not for the faint-of-heart.
    • humperdeath, on 04/30/2008, -2/+6Finally. . . Jerry Garcia's been waiting a long, long time for this guy to show up
    • Ladymongoose, on 04/30/2008, -2/+6Hope he has a wild and wonderful trip to wherever he's giong next.
  • veritasluxmea1, on 04/30/2008, -7/+86Thank you Mr. Hofmann for all you have done. RIP.
    • lolmax, on 04/30/2008, -0/+14he changed my life forever in a completely positive and unfathomable way, and on a larger scale changed the world forever!
      • misguidedmonkey, on 04/30/2008, -8/+0Did this man touch you down, down there?
  • SenorGeltabz, on 04/30/2008, -6/+192 “It was an April day and I went out into the garden and it had been raining during the night. I had the feeling that I saw the earth and the beauty of nature as it had been when it was created, at the first day of creation. It was a beautiful experience! I was reborn, seeing nature in quite a new light.” -Albert Hoffman He lived a full life. Always wanted to meet him.
    • spineaches, on 04/30/2008, -11/+8i ***** love acid so much.
      • flossdaily, on 04/30/2008, -16/+3They say LSD doesn't cause brain damage, but I never met a user that didn't immediately strike me as ***** retarded.

        I know- correlation doesn't imply cause. It's possible that you have to be ***** retarded to try LSD in the first place.
        • Sinnic, on 04/30/2008, -0/+16I suppose the world renowned chemist whose thread you're posting in might be a mold breaker. Or maybe not. Enjoy your floss.
        • Winston84, on 04/30/2008, -1/+2You sure as Hell could use some, might get the stick out of your ass .
        • WiseWeasel, on 04/30/2008, -0/+9That's because you're conditioned to think that taking LSD makes people stupid, from stereotypes portrayed in movies and other media. Many of the great thinkers of the latter half of the 20th century were LSD users, including Nobel Prize winner Francis Crick, discoverer of the structure of DNA, Nobel Prize winner Kary Mullis, inventor of the PCR DNA amplification process, Microsoft co-founderBill Gates, Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, authors Aldus Huxley and Ken Kesey (among so many others), directors Stanley Kubrick and Oliver Stone, former president George H.W. Bush, comedian George Carlin, musicians John Coltrane and Miles Davis (among so many others, including most well-known stars), porn star Jenna Jameson (OK, I just threw that one in for kicks), news anchor Dan Rather, and many more influential people. The contributions made to society by these people cannot be overestimated. Lastly, not everyone goes around advertising their LSD use, so who knows how many of the posts you would deem 'intelligent' were made by LSD users (hopefully mine included)?
          • petrikigor, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2You, my friend, are a great man (or woman?).
  • narcofiche, on 04/30/2008, -7/+70Thanks for everything, Dr. Hofmann. At least he got that last surge of DMT before he died.
    • raid517, on 04/30/2008, -14/+2Where does it say that?
      • earthmansurfer, on 04/30/2008, -1/+31It doesn't. Rather it's been assumed by science (with anecdotal evidence) that the death process involves a DMT release (As does the birth process).
        I tend to agree.
      • exomni, on 04/30/2008, -2/+12"Albert Hofmann, inventor of LSD, dies."
        That last word right there ..............^^^
      • jtien2, on 04/30/2008, -1/+8pineal gland in your brain releases dmt
    • raid517, on 04/30/2008, -4/+1Fair enough. Not sure if he ever really took DMT though. Possible I suppose.
      • down4twenty, on 04/30/2008, -0/+10DMT occurs naturally int he brain during sleep and before death
  • davidrsmith, on 04/30/2008, -8/+46heres a tab for you hofmann, you brought the world truth.
  • shyboy2008, on 04/30/2008, -8/+44Tell me this is just a bad trip
  • standxstrongx, on 04/30/2008, -9/+61Thanks to Dr. Hoffman, I've had some of the best times of my life. I cannot thank him enough for his work. He will truly be missed...
  • magicaltrevor, on 04/30/2008, -44/+4(insert light-hearted joke about deadly trip here)
  • headzoo, on 04/30/2008, -9/+94What a long strange trip it's been.
  • Acronym, on 04/30/2008, -108/+4junkie LOL
    • MrSlumberjack, on 04/30/2008, -4/+28LOL YEA HE MUST HAVE BEEN A JUNKIE CUZ HE MADE A DRUG
    • DonX, on 04/30/2008, -2/+16You're a ***** fool, Go die.
    • B3000, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3102 year old Junkie!
    • dbs1221, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1The man was a genius, he is one of the most published authors in his field and holds a record for the number of patented chemical processes and chemicals (99%sure). And he claims to have never done any drug illegally.
  • Foamed, on 04/30/2008, -4/+27Goodnight sweet prince.
    At least he had a long life.
  • username484767, on 04/30/2008, -6/+31He's trippin with angels now, you know , if they really existed.
    • fr3ddie, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3they dont. LOLZ
      • insllvn, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1There is more and less than you imagine. The perfection of the cosmos, time and space vibrating against itself, he persists in some form, if not in his mortal vessel. Angels though? Yeah, not real.
  • Mjuboy, on 04/30/2008, -31/+273He lived till 102, proof that LSD isnt harmful.
    • dOOBiEx213, on 04/30/2008, -62/+10LSD doesn't kill directly... it kills when people jump off roofs thinking they can fly.
      • Tyrghast, on 04/30/2008, -36/+4Uh, that's heroin, thank you very much. Don't listen to your television, not all drugs are the same.
        • apophenic, on 04/30/2008, -0/+29Haha, what? Heroin makes you think you can fly?
        • mal1964, on 04/30/2008, -2/+21When you do heroin the only thing that's flies is the vomit exiting your mouth.
        • sabach, on 04/30/2008, -1/+12Heroin makes me think I can fly but then I get the nods and flying just seems like too much work.
        • talonstriker, on 04/30/2008, -0/+12Eh thats Redbull.....it gives you wings.
        • MrSlumberjack, on 04/30/2008, -0/+8I have something for you.. it's a little bit of READ THE ***** ARTICLE.
        • 5555, on 04/30/2008, -1/+8No matter how much LSD you consume, if you're stupid enough to think you can fly and not try it from the ground first, you're doing the gene pool a favor.
      • solistus, on 04/30/2008, -5/+70Virtually all of the documented cases of LSD suicide happened thanks to the CIA and MKULTRA. Recreational users are, statistically speaking, less likely to commit suicide than the general population.
        • bgrah449, on 04/30/2008, -1/+11I like the comment, hope it is true, but [citation needed].
          • Winston84, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1It's true, the Government of my country passed a law and has paid millions in "compensation" to the surviving victims
            of CIA's international LSD experiments . They strapped people to a bed in a room and INJECTED them with
            500-1000 microgram pure LSD straight from the CIA's lab . It's estimated that about 50% of the victims either
            went seriously nuts or committed suicide .
          • getbusyliving, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Lemme guess, United States?
          • solistus, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1I'm at work and can't really go snooping around for LSD references re: the suicide rate, but MKULTRA merits further discussion. You know the craziest, most unbelievable ***** you've ever heard a paranoid conspiracy theorist claim government agents have done? MKULTRA is that on crack. The CIA was convinced that 1) LSD or other psychedelics could be used as mind control serums, if administered properly, and 2) the Soviets were on the verge of figuring it out. There were many horrific incidents; of the records that were not destroyed before becoming declassified (the vast majority were), we know of at least one member of the military with a history of depression who was dosed with LSD in an unmonitored setting and jumped out a window to his death. Perhaps most disturbing in terms of the depravity of the CIA, a group of civilians who volunteered for 'experimental medical test procedures' without knowing any details were locked in a room for almost 3 months, given ever-increasing doses of LSD twice daily for 88 straight days. Little is known about what became of the civilians; in CIA land, that usually means something bad happened and the documents were destroyed. Unlike many similar conspiracy theories, Project MKULTRA is well documented in declassified documents from the 60's and has been openly acknowledged by the government.

            But they banned LSD psycotherapy cuz, you know, that's dangerous!
        • slvrbullet87, on 04/30/2008, -2/+3Mainly because it is almost impossible to know if somebody is on LSD through blood tests or tox screens.
          The only way to know is if you actually give it to somebody and watch them go crazy.
        • RobotBuddha, on 04/30/2008, -1/+5It's pretty much impossible to find out at this point, but there's some evidence from people involved with MKULTRA that even some of that was just the CIA getting rid of people who were about to defect or release classified information. It makes a nice excuse, "We didn't know what would happen. We didn't murder, we just tried a drug out on them!" When the reality was a drug plus a shove out the window from someone behind them.
      • 1town, on 04/30/2008, -2/+62If they thought they could fly, why not take off from the ground? They died cause they're idiots.
        • 4rp4n3t, on 04/30/2008, -1/+14OMG - Bill Hicks is alive!
        • xear818, on 04/30/2008, -0/+6Yes, those who realize they can fly while on LSD should practice a few take-offs from the ground first.
          Similarly if you come to the realization that you are Jesus Christ reborn, wait a minimum of two weeks before telling friends and relatives and even then gently test the waters ahead of time.
      • CarStan, on 04/30/2008, -2/+8Yoiu mean i CAN'T fly?
      • kywirelessguy, on 04/30/2008, -0/+3I thought PCP was the one that made you fly.
        • bgrah449, on 04/30/2008, -0/+4Have you ever tried sugar, or PCP?
        • wafflesomd, on 04/30/2008, -0/+4Ha, good ole Mitch.
        • CynicSight, on 04/30/2008, -0/+3No, PCP is the one that affects the adrenaline gland and can actually make you lift cars. No joke.
        • Chaos12, on 04/30/2008, -0/+3PCP will make you think people around you can fly, and you'll HATE them because you can't.
      • Jexie, on 04/30/2008, -1/+7Turn OFF the after-school specials and step away from the television....
    • deviantsteve, on 04/30/2008, -32/+8But was he still sane?
      • aidave, on 04/30/2008, -2/+19Saner than most. He was on the Nobel Prize committee.
        • flossdaily, on 04/30/2008, -6/+1The committee that gave the Peace prize to Yassar Arafat, a terrorist and corrupt leader of the Palestinians? Sounds like a poor case for sanity.
          • Winston84, on 04/30/2008, -1/+1Arafat shared the Peace-prize with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin so they gave it to 3 terrorists !
            We know for a fact that Shimon Peres has acquired nuclear WMD's illegally, making him a terrorist .
            Rabin was a General and since all soldiers are terrorists that makes him one as well .
            And the prize-money comes from the profits of selling dynamite ..
          • aidave, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1You are a poor case for sanity.
      • flossdaily, on 04/30/2008, -10/+1Of course not. Have you ever heard the guy talk? He's been trapped in some hazy narcissistic trance for the last 40 years.
    • sindex, on 04/30/2008, -9/+110While I agree with you that acid isn't harmful, it is hardly proof. My grandfather lived to be 99, and smoked cigarettes and drank whiskey for 85 years. Is that proof cigarettes and alcohol aren't harmful? No, it means he was lucky.
      Not that I'm comparing the three drugs directly, just saying that it is proof of nothing.
      • aidave, on 04/30/2008, -19/+2Yeah but did your grandfather discover/invent alcohol and cigarettes? This isn't quite the same, but I do understand your point.
      • TypeEE, on 04/30/2008, -2/+14No, he could have live till 200 if he didn't smoke.
      • Spudster, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3While this isn't "proof" per se, it is medically recognized that LSD is not physically bad for you. The only dangers of LSD come from people who aren't ready for the experience and have a bad trip as a result of set and setting.
        • B3000, on 04/30/2008, -1/+5Quit pulling "facts" out of your ass. It is medically recognized that long term use actually does have long lasting negative neurological impact. Mostly in regard to depression and mood instability. You can dispute those conclusions all you want and say they are part of a conspiracy by the medical profession to bolster the sales of more profitable & patented pharma. I might even agree with you if you said it. But you can't claim that the medical establishment recognizes that LSD is harmless, because they don't.
          • Spudster, on 04/30/2008, -0/+4I am not "pulling facts" out of my ass. LSD is not recognized to be dangerous physically. Physiologically, LSD causes a temporary set of side effects that go away after it has been metabolized (notably uterine contractions). One long time effect is that repeated doses can cause "tolerance" to the effects, but this tolerance is neither a sign of addiction nor does it produce physical withdrawal symptoms. It should be noted that LSD has virtually zero addiction potential, because the drug does not artificially induce happiness so that it can be used as an escape from reality (in the way Cocaine and Heroin are addictive.) There is no evidence at all to indicate that LSD causes brain damage and the lethal dose is much higher than the dose required to "trip," making LSD a relatively safe drug physically.

            Additionally, there is no evidence that LSD itself is the cause of mood problems and depression. It may "trigger" mental illness in people already susceptible, but this triggering is similar to other drugs such as marijuana and is neither a big threat nor unique to LSD. Please source me evidence that shows LSD use will cause depression and mood problems. I want evidence of the chemical itself causing the depression, not a correlation between drug users and depression. If you can provide that evidence, then you have an argument.

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lsd#Physical

            http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/lsd/lsd_basics.sht ...
          • Winston84, on 04/30/2008, -1/+2"is not physically bad for you" .. You are talking about something else..
            but yes, it is medically recognized that "long term use" is not good, medicine knows this from the experiments
            conducted with LSD . Needless to say, anybody who knows the slightest about LSD knows that it should be treated with respect,
            it's not like smoking a joint or anything else. That respect includes not over-doing it .
          • WiseWeasel, on 04/30/2008, -2/+1Just out of curiosity, how hardcore do you have to be to use LSD long-term? These people must really be into self-punishment...
      • joe122370, on 04/30/2008, -4/+2sorry no. My aunt used it a lot in the late 70's and is completely psycho now
    • dienaked, on 04/30/2008, -4/+29Um, a sample size of 1 doesn't 'prove' anything.
      • robbob, on 04/30/2008, -2/+2He took 2 doses. 1 minor does accidentally through skin absorption, then another he controlled and it was a "horrifying experience" riding his bike fast but feeling as if it was rooted to the ground.
        • Spudster, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2Lol... I'm pretty sure Hoffmann has taken way more than two doses of LSD...
    • DiggyWiggy, on 04/30/2008, -24/+3Not according to the CNN article about his death:

      "But away from the psychedelic trips and flower children, horror stories emerged about people going on murder sprees or jumping out of windows while hallucinating. Heavy users suffered permanent psychological damage."

      He must be one of the lucky few to pull through...

      http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/29/hofmann.obit.ap/i ...
      • pojut, on 04/30/2008, -2/+21And CNN is completely wrong. I have known MANY people who have experimented both with LSD and Psylocibin MANY, MANY, MANY times. These people are some of the happiest, most responsible folks that I know.

        Abusing drugs is what causes the behavior you are talking about. UTILIZING them, and treating them with the respect they deserve, can increase the quality of your life more than you can possibly imagine.
      • 4rp4n3t, on 04/30/2008, -1/+14Ah CNN - that well known bastion of truth and impartial reporting.
        • kidcodea, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1it is when they are airing clips of bears

          tx cnn for replacing aaron brown with babyboy vanderbilt
      • Malacandra95, on 04/30/2008, -1/+15"Horror stories emerged" is great use of the passive voice... you don't have to be responsible for whether it's true or not if all you say is "horror stories emerged". Are the stories true? We don't know... and they don't care. It's like when you hear some talking head on Fox News claim that "Some say..."
        • RobotBuddha, on 04/30/2008, -0/+3I love the media and passive voice. The absolute best is the science articles that state "scientists say", or even "scientists at x university say".
      • dn11, on 04/30/2008, -1/+12"lucky few" = millions?
      • Spudster, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2It gets me so angry to see the media repeat the same lies over and over again about entheogenic drugs. They don't realize the radical cultural effect such propaganda has on people's perception of people who use entheogenic drugs.

        The school system is guilty too. I remember one speaker who warned we would get "holes" in our brain using ecstasy. I quickly corrected him by clarifying that study was with Meth on monkeys and was later retracted.
        • quizmaster520, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2He might have been mixed up with ketamine (another drug used in clubs). It causes Olney's Lesions (which are holes in your brain. The study was done on rats, but it probably happens to humans too, since heavy users quantitatively claim to feel dumber. =P

          Yay moderation and responsibility!
      • BlackBob, on 05/01/2008, -0/+4I guess I'm just one of the lucky ones to pull through too. I've done acid hundreds, maybe thousands of times. I know lots of others who have too. I haven't seen anyone yet who was messed up for life because of it. I know I'm not. It has made me a much better person and I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had for anything.
    • sinenomine, on 04/30/2008, -3/+44key words, "horror stories". The government has been making ***** up about lsd since the 60s. Damaging chromosomes, making your brain bleed, staying in your spine? All *****.
      • nj10ii, on 04/30/2008, -1/+18Exactly, propaganda to justify its total elimination. Pot and LSD was the fuel for the 60's, and that looked to lead to a revolution. The establishment reacted by eliminating the fuel. That and the Hippies grew up and moved into the business world...
        • Eslamicolt3, on 04/30/2008, -9/+1Lol no they didn't. I see them living in cardboard boxes on my way to work.
          • smotpoker, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3Those are the ones who sustained massive head trauma as they were beaten for peaceful protest.
      • Sinnic, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2Makes you wonder how that happened. Sad, in a way.
    • enntee, on 04/30/2008, -4/+20This doesn't prove acid is harmless any more than "God answered my prayers" is proof of God's existence.
      (That said, acid is quite safe, at least physically)
      • MsArtGeek, on 04/30/2008, -0/+5As long as you don't do like this guy did:
        http://digg.com/odd_stuff/LSD_use_claimed_in_fatal ...

        If he'd actually killed himself, I'd list cause of death as stupidity personally. Unfortunately he just crashed a car which killed his girlfriend (the passenger). So she died of HIS stupidity.
        • WiseWeasel, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1She was pretty stupid to get in a car with the driver tripping on LSD, assuming she was aware (hard not to be)...
      • Spudster, on 04/30/2008, -5/+1I heard of one case where someone overdosed and died after they mistook some powder as heroin and shot it up. Little did he know it was pure LSD...
        • B3000, on 04/30/2008, -0/+9...and there hanging from the mirror, was... A HOOK!!!
          • WiseWeasel, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2EEEEEEK... I mean, AAAAAAH... I mean, that didn't scare me!
        • insllvn, on 04/30/2008, -0/+4LSD isn't a powder...
          • quizmaster520, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1It can be administered in a substrate (such as a sugar cube, or maybe something more heroin-esque).
          • insllvn, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1True, but the spudster's story claims it was pure.
        • 4rp4n3t, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2Pics or it never happened.
          What I mean is [citation needed].
          "I heard of one time when my sister's husband's best friend's dog licked it's own balls clean off!"
        • 5555, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2Yea, that's right up there with the guy who took cartoon acid and was chased by Mickey Mouse for hours. Or the guy who was gonna get busted by the cops so to hide the evidence ate 100 tabs and tripped for a week. Everybody has that friend of a friend.
        • stoanhart, on 05/03/2008, -0/+25555, don't forget the morons who will tell you all about the pink elephants... and most people believe them. Sigh.
    • MrSlumberjack, on 04/30/2008, -4/+15Since when does harmful just mean life-shortening?
      From the article:
      "Research also showed that the drug taken in high doses and in inappropriate settings, often caused panic reactions. For certain individuals, a bad trip seemed to be the trigger for full-blown psychosis."
      I have nothing against acid, but it's not for everyone.
      • bone625, on 04/30/2008, -4/+18While that's true, its also noteworthy that psychosis triggered by psychedelics occur when the person taking it is at a high risk for psychosis anyways. It doesn't CREATE it, it simply unlocks what already is there.
        • MsArtGeek, on 04/30/2008, -0/+8source?
          • bone625, on 04/30/2008, -0/+3Quite a bit to read, but good information can be found in all of the following articles :

            http://www.paularon.co.uk/Hallucinogens.pdf
            http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/528487_6
            http://www.nzdf.org.nz/lsd

            From the last site:

            Reactions that are prolonged (days, months) and/or require hospitalisation are often referred to as "LSD psychosis". Both LSD psychosis and bad trips can affect first time and long time users, although these are more common in people with a history of mental health issues, who use other drugs, or who were not in a calm mindset and environment during administration.
          • Spudster, on 04/30/2008, -0/+3He's right.

            Erowid: "Individuals with a family history of schizophrenia or early onset mental illness should be extremely careful because LSD is known to trigger latent psychological and mental problems."
            http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/lsd/lsd_basics.sht ...

            Wikipedia: "There are some cases of LSD inducing a psychosis in people who appeared to be healthy prior to taking LSD. This issue was reviewed extensively in a 1984 publication by Rick Strassman.[55] In most cases, the psychosis-like reaction is of short duration, but in other cases it may be chronic. It is difficult to determine if LSD itself induces these reactions or if it triggers latent conditions that would have manifested themselves otherwise. The similarities of time course and outcomes between putatively LSD-precipitated and other psychoses suggests that the two types of syndromes are not different and that LSD may have been a nonspecific trigger. Several studies have tried to estimate the prevalence of LSD-induced prolonged psychosis arriving at numbers of around 4 in 1,000 individuals (0.8 in 1,000 volunteers and 1.8 in 1,000 psychotherapy patients in Cohen 1960;[56] 9 per 1,000 psychotherapy patients in Melleson 1971).[57]"
            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lsd#Psychosis
          • MsArtGeek, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1thanks.
      • Spudster, on 04/30/2008, -1/+7It's not for everyone the same way meditation may not be for everyone. It's a choice people can, and should be allowed to, make. One of the benefits of LSD is that it can force people to make realizations about their life that they would have struggled to realize without it. For example, LSD treatment with alcoholics was found to be successful because the drug made alcoholics aware and disgusted of their lifestyle.
        • MrSlumberjack, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1Did you actually mean meditation, or did you mean medication?
        • bluesatin, on 04/30/2008, -0/+0It seems to work both ways, I wonder which he ment.
      • Sinnic, on 04/30/2008, -1/+2I've never seen nor been around a bad acid trip. Ever. I don't know who it happens with, or where, or when. It's just something you 'hear' about.
        • Spudster, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2I've had mushroom experiences that were temporarily REALLY bad. However, being smart about the experience, I changed set and setting and everything worked out fine a few minutes later. What I can tell you from that experience is that a bad trip has the potential to be absolutely horrifying if get you stuck in terrible circumstances (you get arrested, get lost from your friends at a big concert, etc.)
        • WiseWeasel, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2A bad trip is when you have to spend time with your parents on LSD (or the police, I'd imagine)...
          • BlackBob, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1I spent time with the police while tripping and I actually enjoyed it. :)
        • quizmaster520, on 05/01/2008, -0/+7I've heard that a bad trip, so long as you don't go crazy or kill yourself, can be quite a good thing in learning about yourself. Some acid users I have talked with say the bad trips are better than the good ones.
          • 4rp4n3t, on 05/01/2008, -0/+6Absolutely. You can learn a *lot* about yourself from a bad trip...
    • MisterFreeze, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/hallucino ...

      Let the Circumstantial Ad Hominem begin.
      • Spudster, on 04/30/2008, -2/+4I take serious issue with their characterization that all use is "abuse." There is a reason I use Erowid as a source for information and not NIDA: They aren't preachy.
    • moush, on 04/30/2008, -1/+1Pure drugs are not bad, good luck getting that.
  • bassik, on 04/30/2008, -0/+38he also invented the nootropic (smart drug) hydergine
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydergine
    • solistus, on 04/30/2008, -0/+8Hydergine is one of the most important chemicals Americans are largely ignorant about. Nootropics have helped thousands of people in Europe suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's.
    • DeathJux, on 04/30/2008, -0/+8He was involved with the synthesis of all sorts of wacky chemicals.

      http://www.psychedelic-library.org/child.htm

      That's his auto-biography. Incredibly fascinating. He was a blessed man.
  • jimmy17, on 04/30/2008, -4/+42102?! Im gonna have to get some acid!
  • StephenCIreland, on 04/30/2008, -4/+18i shall trip the whole rainbow in his honour,
  • mal1964, on 04/30/2008, -6/+53Albert Hofmann's dead.
    No, no, no, no, He's outside looking in.
    Albert Hofmann's dead.
    No, no, no, no, He's outside looking in.
    He'll fly his astral plane,
    Takes you trips around the bay,
    Brings you back the same day,
    Albert Hofmann. Albert Hofmann.
    • MeHow, on 04/30/2008, -2/+7Along the labs you'll hear them boast
      About a flame they say that shines so clear.
      So raise your glass, we'll drink a toast
      To the little man who sells you thrills along the counters.
  • ceris, on 04/30/2008, -5/+25Thanks for all the good times 'ole man.
  • dOOBiEx213, on 04/30/2008, -3/+27Wow. I just watched a documentary Saturday on the History Channel, and was amazed he was still alive. RIP.
  • Nhmarine, on 04/30/2008, -73/+5Hippies rule, so I guess I will have to join all the hippies hand in hand in wishing this guy a good farewell... Oh, wait, everyone stinks because they haven't showered in a millinium and smoke pot and all of these lighthearted savethewaleswhilewerehigh songs are getting on my nerves. Screw you hippies, I'm goin home.
    • solistus, on 04/30/2008, -4/+52What an intelligent and mature response to the death of one of humanity's great minds. Go ***** yourself.
    • RonniSR, on 04/30/2008, -2/+20At least some people has been enjoying there life's.
      You should do the same instead of trying to make smart ass comments and even fail on that matter.
      First of all you should start growing up and learn a few things about respect.
    • suedeb, on 04/30/2008, -0/+5epic fail
    • Spudster, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3That might have been funny 30 years ago...
  • MacParrot, on 04/30/2008, -4/+30Dr. Hofmann,
    On the occasion of your passing and having lived through the 60s and 70s myself, I will admit to some "experimentation" with various substances that shall remain unnamed. With that in mind, In only have one thing to say:

    "Crishermis Blugomba ferlongasdervum (whoa, check out my hands!)....OK...OK...ya see each atom in one of my fingernails could be a little tiny universe!
  • molekyl, on 04/30/2008, -4/+31So long and thanks for all the trips!
  • Tyrghast, on 04/30/2008, -6/+65Dr. Hoffman, thank you for letting us squeegee that third eye and learn to enjoy life.
    • MeHow, on 04/30/2008, -8/+5Dugg for the Bill Hicks reference
    • Herostratus, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2Just make sure to stay off the TV. Its like taking a can o spraypaint and going PSHHHHHHHHHH all over that 3rd eye.
  • RonniSR, on 04/30/2008, -5/+24Albert Hofmann made a lot of people see things from another perspective.
    R.I.P.
  • Alphateam, on 04/30/2008, -24/+4Thanks man. You were my forth hit this year on my dead pool.
    • FishHammer, on 04/30/2008, -0/+4Come on man, that's just tasteless, show some respect
      • Alphateam, on 04/30/2008, -2/+1I didn't kill him. I just guessed that he was going to kick it this year.
  • BlackBob, on 04/30/2008, -13/+9Here's some great music that was influenced by good ol' LSD. Nektar - Crying in the Dark/King of Twilight from A Tab in the Ocean:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZQdF12Fw-I
    • DeathJux, on 04/30/2008, -2/+13Why stop there?

      Infected Mushroom http://youtube.com/watch?v=hgtDHqWmSnc

      Aesop Rock http://youtube.com/watch?v=nUBT56dOch4

      The Flashbulb http://youtube.com/watch?v=qk-FFrfE0kk

      Those are my three favorite artists, and all have been highly influenced by LSD. I don't think it's a coincidence, but I find it fascinating that I'm enormously attracted to that underlying rhythm in the music.
      • BlackBob, on 04/30/2008, -2/+3Thanks, these are new to me.
      • BlackBob, on 04/30/2008, -3/+4I listened to them all, I really like the Infected Mushroom and Flashbulb. I can do without the Aesop Rock, but that's just me...

        Thanks again.
        • DeathJux, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2You're welcome. Aesop is definitely in a different vein than the other two, musically, but lyrically he mops the floor with anyone I've ever heard.

          Here's a very accessible but still extremely awesome and powerful Aesop Rock song, "No Regrets" - http://youtube.com/watch?v=whGfOFOCE2s

      • mookieXL, on 04/30/2008, -2/+8More LSD influenced music:

        Shpongle - http://youtube.com/watch?v=J4JqhA_PpZo&feature=rel ...
        Eskimo - http://youtube.com/watch?v=A3GCQ30A0zs&feature=rel ...
        1200 mics - http://youtube.com/watch?v=jv0-WRd1BhM&feature=rel ...
      • thatcrazycommie, on 04/30/2008, -2/+1I love Infected Mushroom but they're actually well-known in the psytrance scene for being drug-free. Just sayin'.
        • aidave, on 04/30/2008, -0/+5Drug-free? Infected mushroom? Hmm. I'm sure they don't do drugs while up on stage, but they have most probably done them, and are influenced by them. Just listen to the samples they use in their music (Leary for example). Not to mention the name of the band.
        • DeathJux, on 04/30/2008, -0/+4Even though I would be shocked if they have never done LSD, they definitely engender the same spirit regardless.
      • heroesdietrying, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2Dugg for your username and posting great music.
      • MsArtGeek, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2This list is incomplete without Hawkwind and Ozric Tentacles
        • DeathJux, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2Ozric Tentacles is too meandering for me... I can listen to it, but never for long.
      • spineaches, on 04/30/2008, -2/+1most of infected mushroom is just stupid repetitive techno.

        well i do like that song converting vegetarians...
    • sabach, on 04/30/2008, -0/+4Nektar was a great band, would've liked to have seen them live. In the early '70s there were certain albums in my collection that my guests invariably requested; Wishbone Ash "Live Dates", Amboy Dukes "Tooth Fang & Claw", Montrose "Montrose", Joe Walsh "Barnstorm" and Nektar "Remember the Future".
      • Malacandra95, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2I saw Nektar twice in the late 70's/early 80's - a truly great band. I can't imagine why people dugg down BlackBob for posting a YouTube of them.
    • laceration, on 04/30/2008, -2/+4imho the most 'trippy' music ever is Tool
    • WiseWeasel, on 04/30/2008, -0/+3The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead (I'm sure they all took it), Jim Morrison, Carlos Santana, The Beach Boys, Primus (snuck that one in), and so many others...
      • spineaches, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1I LOVE PRIMUS!!!! ***** AWESOMEST BAND!!!!!!
  • kevin044, on 04/30/2008, -2/+4after reading your biography, i feel like an ass for all the wasted time i spent under the influence of various hallucinogens... years later, i think i am a complete functioning individual amongst the public! rock on, hofmann, sandoz, and now novartis. when i drive past your former lab near my town, i'll think of you!
  • edebolt, on 04/30/2008, -19/+9haha. People did acid trips centuries before in europe when their grains in storage were contanimated with the ergot fungus which turned the wheat or rye into LSD.

    In history a number of villages went completely nutz and were considered possessed by the devil. Observers would see completely insane people jumping out of windows and sawing off the limbs etc.

    Hoffman was the father of modern synthetic derived LSD. Rest in Peace
    • username484767, on 04/30/2008, -12/+3you really don't know what you are talking about, sorry, lol.

      that was LSA, not LSD.
      • apophenic, on 04/30/2008, -2/+11It wasn't LSA either, sorry.
        • CiXeL, on 04/30/2008, -0/+4read the book "Plants of the Gods" for the real information.
          talks all about st. anthony's fire. pretty scary stuff-- definitely not an enjoyable trip.
      • edebolt, on 04/30/2008, -12/+3agreed chemically different, my mistake but similarly same tripping experience allthough poisionous. Mehow you should just learn some manners before calling someone a stupid *****. Where you raised by crack whores?
        • apophenic, on 04/30/2008, -0/+7No one called you a stupid *****, calm down.
        • MacParrot, on 04/30/2008, -0/+4Maybe you should take some acid?
        • DonX, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2LSA is chemically similar to LSD but the experience is not the same at all.
    • MeHow, on 04/30/2008, -3/+9NOW i hope none of you stupid ***** well go out a eat ergot... because that would be really stupid of you
      www.erowid.org learn before you explore
    • Stevo23, on 04/30/2008, -0/+12Ergotism is not an LSD trip. Please learn some science before posting.
  • indyjb, on 04/30/2008, -4/+20I trip this Friday in your memory, you amazing individual. You will be missed by many, but never forgotten.

    RIP Albert Hofmann
    • Nhmarine, on 04/30/2008, -20/+4I forgot him already.
    • aktrojan08, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1right there with you indyjb. this tabs for you dr. hoffman!
  • godsdead, on 04/30/2008, -2/+51"
    He remained convinced that the drug had the potential to counter the psychological problems induced by “materialism, alienation from nature through industrialisation and increasing urbanisation, lack of satisfaction in professional employment in a mechanised, lifeless working world, ennui and purposelessness in wealthy, saturated society, and lack of a religious, nurturing, and meaningful philosophical foundation of life”.
    "
    • purewwfrage, on 04/30/2008, -3/+1what is that quote from? 'my problem child' ?
    • GhostyBoy, on 04/30/2008, -0/+5Most people live their whole lives without seeing anything wrong with those things.

      Tragic farce.
    • spineaches, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2at least acid isnt dead. we may yet have a chance..
      maybe.
    • novenator, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1well quoted
  • jameshighmore, on 04/30/2008, -1/+21“Until the twentieth century, reality was everything humans could touch, smell, see and hear. Since the initial publication that charted the electromagnetic spectrum, humans have learned that what they can touch, smell, see and hear is less than one millionth of reality.” - Richard Buckminster Fuller

    RIP Albert.
    • BertEatsDirt, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3Jimi Hendrix, ***** was so cash
    • solid12345, on 04/30/2008, -1/+1Well I hardly think acid trips constitute as "reality"
      • serend, on 04/30/2008, -0/+6No mind on the earth is capable of defining reality because its all in the perception of ones own consciousness.
  • franciscofelipe, on 04/30/2008, -5/+8Oh.. hell I just woke up and this is the first news I read... it's gotta be a sad day.
  • JMellissa, on 04/30/2008, -9/+21I have to admit that LSD 25 is by far my favorite drug. That being said I realize I can never dose it again. If I did, I would want some Marijuana or Hashish and a couple cans of Schmidts beer! I always preferred Schmidts when I was tripping and I don't know why. Being an alcoholic and addict, I can't take the chance because I would be right back where I was in no time at all.
    Addiction is SERIOUS business! As it is I remain addicted to guitars and verious other musical instruments, but that's better than drugs because when you "do" drugs, they're gone. When you "do" music, it just begets more music!
    • TheSlinky, on 04/30/2008, -3/+7I didn't know you could get addicted to LSD
    • Helloween2008, on 04/30/2008, -0/+7"One is too many and a thousand never enough"

      ;)
    • heroesdietrying, on 04/30/2008, -1/+9Didn't they used to use LSD to help treat alcoholics?
      • davewashere, on 04/30/2008, -0/+4I've read that. Apparently it helps addicts see themselves from a new perspective so they are more aware of what their addiction has done to them. They often reach their "low" when using LSD, which is an important point in recovering from an addiction.
      • serend, on 04/30/2008, -0/+3Alexander shulgin and his wife used LSD and MDMA among other chemicals in therapeutic sessions on patients to induce a hypnotic state where one can free them self from guilt of life.
    • chaostheory216, on 04/30/2008, -4/+12LSD isn't addictive. After my friends and I trip, it's usually a general agreement that we wouldn't be able to handle trips on a regular basis. It's too much. it's usually like 2 weeks between tripping.

      Not to mention there is no addictive qualities at all in the chemical.

      buried for propaganda.
      • ThugThrasher, on 04/30/2008, -1/+10I'm pretty sure he was saying he was addicted to alcohol and that the LSD would make him want to drink again.
      • joe122370, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3that's what all the addicts say
    • slvrbullet87, on 04/30/2008, -4/+1I feel the same way about X, one night at a rave 3 months before i get my head out of my ass and lay off the pot
    • pilobilus, on 04/30/2008, -1/+12Timothy Leary worked with Alcholics Anonymous. They found that LSD based therapy was the most effective treatment for alcoholism that had ever been tested. Too bad it was outlawed.
    • dano420, on 04/30/2008, -3/+0Ever heard of self discipline?
  • Hangly, on 04/30/2008, -16/+3I thought LSD grew naturally on rye, and that accounted for all the bizarre monsters people saw in the rye-eating countries of Eastern Europe during the middle ages.
    • Azurensis, on 04/30/2008, -1/+9Ergot fungus can grow on rye, but there is quite a bit of chemical manipulation needed to turn that into LSD. Plus, if you eat that fungus, you'll probably die, where if you eat LSD, you'll just trip.
    • GhostRidr, on 04/30/2008, -0/+4One theory on the Salem Witch Trial hysteria, was that the grain was infected with the ergot fungus.
    • getbusyliving, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1Idiot.
  • Hangly, on 04/30/2008, -11/+19Turn on, tune in, drop out
  • synyster, on 04/30/2008, -22/+1what the hell is LSD?
  • Tinendo, on 04/30/2008, -3/+19My Hand tastes like Rainbows.
    • Spire3660, on 04/30/2008, -1/+0snozzberries taste like snozzberries...yada yada yada
  • Rambus89, on 04/30/2008, -5/+10Cant wait for this weekend

    Taste Shapes and Hear Colors
  • eshin922, on 04/30/2008, -6/+16It's official. LSD promotes long life!
    • dienaked, on 04/30/2008, -2/+13Really? Maybe he was scheduled to live to 120 and LSD ended it 18 years early.
  • dakotaranger, on 04/30/2008, -46/+5Good riddens!!
  • sizbo, on 04/30/2008, -13/+3Even more interesting, IMHO, is that reddit broke the story.

    • supremebeing18, on 04/30/2008, -3/+9Who cares?
    • dn11, on 04/30/2008, -1/+2seriously? I read it on the front page of google news and came here go digg it. they didn't "break" anything.
      • sizbo, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1Yep. They did. (No link because diggers are lazy)
    • bullcutter, on 04/30/2008, -1/+2uh, him dying "broke the story"
  • giveaphuk, on 04/30/2008, -2/+19RIP old man, & TY for changing my life (for the better). I think everyone should take a good trip @ least once in their life. the world needs this.

    • jbeezer, on 04/30/2008, -0/+5Here's a scenario - all the leaders of the free world confined in a garden, given LSD. Enough said. World Peace?

      'You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope some day you will join us, and the world will live as one'
      -John Lennon
  • MarioWhereRu, on 04/30/2008, -1/+8I guess you really cant say that it was the drugs that killed him.
  • anogenic, on 04/30/2008, -3/+10How grim would this world be if Mr Hoffman never made his discovery!
    Thanks man and RIP.
  • rossiprojects, on 04/30/2008, -18/+9He discovered LSD he did not invent it. RIP great man.
    • dn11, on 04/30/2008, -1/+6makes you wonder how many other chemicals and their specific properties have gone undiscovered. the chain of events that lead to him synthesizing LSD and then accidentally dosing himself are quite uncanny.
    • exomni, on 04/30/2008, -2/+10No, he invented LSD. It's a synthetic drug.
      • BabaRamDass, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3Semantics.

        LSD is a molecule, meaning it's a concept (mental) of certain particles in a certain arrangement that can be materialized through the use of chemistry. Similar to, say, a computer program which is just a concept of certain values in a certain arrangement. The arrangement is purely mental, it's merely been materialized in the form of electrons on your hard drive.

        Elements. The concept of an element with the atomic weight of 34525 is out there, but it hasn't been "discovered". Say we manage to "synthesize" this element (as we have others) before it is discovered in nature, have we invented the element or have we simply materialized a pattern or arrangement that has previously existed?

        In an infinite world, every conceivable pattern or arrangement is already "out there" simply waiting for our human minds to stumble upon them and describe them in our terms, whether that's mathematics, chemistry, or computer science.
        • exomni, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2Yeah, and it's also possible that if a hurricane struck the right natural growth of palm trees it might fashion itself a little tiki hut, but we still say tiki huts were INVENTED, not DISCOVERED.
          • BabaRamDass, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1First of all, that would be flipping awesome if that happened. Second, some freak phenomenal naturally occuring thing like that would probably be referred to as being discovered. Just like if erosion carved a face on Mars. Faces have been around, but that particular instance would be a discovery.

            Like I said, it's semantics.
          • exomni, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Yes, finding that particular natural occurrence of a Tiki Hut would be a "discovery", but the synthetic invention of a Tiki Hut would still be an invention.
    • doyoumrjones, on 04/30/2008, -2/+3Nice, making a correction when you're full of *****.
  • zetsurin, on 04/30/2008, -3/+9Trip in Peace.
  • PPCG4, on 04/30/2008, -1/+22...finally found my damn keys
    • allengeer, on 04/30/2008, -0/+13god damn. ***** the bed.
      • echolyean, on 04/30/2008, -0/+8But still forgot my pen.
        • allengeer, on 04/30/2008, -0/+4***** the bed again. typical.
        • getrealnow, on 04/30/2008, -2/+2i cannot find my ***** that i ***** in
          • echolyean, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2It's like that episode of South Park where are all the kids are playing "Lord of the Rings" and suddenly one kid chimes in with Star Wars gear and lingo.
        • diablo75, on 04/30/2008, -0/+6They he looked right through me,
          With somniferous almond eyes....don't even know what that means.... must remember to write it down....
          • echolyean, on 05/01/2008, -0/+310 to 2 am, X, Yogi, DMT and a box of Krispy Kremes in my "need to know" pose, I was just outside Area 51 contemplating the whole "chosen people" thing when just then a flaming stealth banana split the sky like one would hope, but never really expect to see, in a place like this. Cutting right angle donuts on a dime and stopping right at my berkenstocks and me yelling... holy *****' *****!
            ....
            Overwhelmed as one would be placed in my position. Such a heavy burden now to be the one. Born to bear and bring to all the details of our ending; to write it down for all the world to see. But I forgot my pen! ***** the bed again! Typical.

            Strapped down to my bed. Feet cold. Eyes red. I'm outta my head. Am I alive? Am I dead? Sunkist and Sudafed. Gyroscopes and infrared. Won't help, I'm brain dead. Can't remember what they said. God damn, ***** the bed.

            Can't remember what they said to make me out to be a hero! Don't know, won't know. Bob help me! God damn, ***** the bed.
  • Dioxide1982, on 04/30/2008, -3/+6Thanks for all the good times
  • ocularist, on 04/30/2008, -3/+16"SPIT" on the faces of the people who banned it....
    • shadygrove, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2>"SPIT" on the faces of the people who banned it....

      or simply evolve beyond them and create our own culture with our own social values... an uphill climb, to be sure, in the face of zero tolerance, but a worthy one to undertake.
  • paternostro, on 04/30/2008, -3/+2for ever remembered Albert.
    World Psychedelic Forum!!!
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