Should you take LSD?

[lisa needs braces]

I think there is an addiction to pointing to alcohol, as if its use justifies any other recreational substance.

Excuse me for once again reaching for the low hanging fruit of pointing out that astounding hypocrisy.

[Baron Scarpia]

This is incorrect. Alcohol binds to gamma-aminobutyric-acid receptors in the brain, to N-methyl-d-aspertate receptors and even small amounts of alcohol increase dopamine in the nucleus accumbens area of the brain. It has multiple effects on brain chemistry by acting as agonist or antagonist at various receptor sites.

You are right, my statement was incorrect. But it is a low potency drug which primarily enhances GABA, resulting in neuroinhibition and having a general sedative effect. It does not cause hallucinations, dissociation, etc. I wouldn't want to give up my glass of wine with dinner, mainly for the taste. I've seen what opioids do, even under supervision of a 'pain specialist' (i.e., pusher). There is no comparison.

[Karl Henning]

But as long as it's legal I'm generally all for people eating, reading, watching, imbibing whatever (and fu--king whoever) they want to.

Yes.  I suppose I took the thread literally:  Should I?  Of course, one cannot absolutely answer without doing so, whether one should or should not.  I am inclined to think I should not.

[BasilValentine]

You are right, my statement was incorrect. But it is a low potency drug which primarily enhances GABA, resulting in neuroinhibition and having a general sedative effect. It does not cause hallucinations, dissociation, etc. I wouldn't want to give up my glass of wine with dinner, mainly for the taste. I've seen what opioids do, even under supervision of a 'pain specialist' (i.e., pusher). There is no comparison.

Opiods don't really have anything to do with the thread topic. And you talk about hallucinations like they're a bad thing! You do know that's most of the point of taking the stuff, right?

[Baron Scarpia]

Well, to return to the original point, I don't think it is wise to take a substances like LSD that re-wires your brain to the point where you can't distinguish a hallucination from reality. It is alcohol which was the non sequitur in this thread.

[lisa needs braces]

Well, to return to the original point, I don't think it is wise to take a substances like LSD that re-wires your brain to the point where you can't distinguish a hallucination from reality.

I took LSD once. I was certainly aware the entire time that my perceptions were being impacted by the substance. Have you taken LSD such that you know of what you speak? The knee jerk objection to taking hallicugens reeks of puritanism and fear of the unknown more than prudance.

[lisa needs braces]

Also: You only live once, only to return to nothingness. If you try LSD and you don't like it you can get mad at me. However, what if you're just missing out on lovely experiences out of fear and puritanism?

As Andrew Sullivan says of the effects the substance had on him:

"I found myself overwhelmed with the feeling of love for others, for boundless compassion, sometimes almost painful empathy."

That's exactly what I felt. The effect of listening music on it was also extremely intense and pleasurable. And there was an after glow that lasted several days -- and the experience is such that you don't necessarily want to repeat it immediately, which wouldn't work anyway. You can only have solid LSD trips once every three months or so from what I gather.

It's almost been a year. I wish I had some LSD tabs right now.

[Ken B]

Also: You only live once, only to return to nothingness. If you try LSD and you don't like it you can get mad at me. However, what if you're just missing out on lovely experiences out of fear and puritanism?

As Andrew Sullivan says of the effects the substance had on him:

"I found myself overwhelmed with the feeling of love for others, for boundless compassion, sometimes almost painful empathy."

That's exactly what I felt. The effect of listening music on it was also extremely intense and pleasurable. And there was an after glow that lasted several days -- and the experience is such that you don't necessarily want to repeat it immediately, which wouldn't work anyway. You can only have solid LSD trips once every three months or so from what I gather.

It's almost been a year. I wish I had some LSD tabs right now.

Well, with Sullivan any change would be an improvement. Karl, not so much.

Unless it made him see the light on Mennin's 8th I suppose.

[Karl Henning]

Unless it made him see the light on Mennin's 8th I suppose.

If this light I see is a hallucination ... I'm going with it!

[BasilValentine]

Well, to return to the original point, I don't think it is wise to take a substances like LSD that re-wires your brain to the point where you can't distinguish a hallucination from reality. It is alcohol which was the non sequitur in this thread.

Yes, I believe abe is on to something. Being unable to distinguish hallucination from reality is the relatively rare exception to the rule, something of which you would likely be aware had you any first-hand or even reliable second-hand information — that is, friends who tripped.