Should you take LSD?

[lisa needs braces]

Looks like pscyhedelics are slowly coming out of the shadows and it's doctors and researchers doing the work of de-stigmatizing it:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/05/15/611225541/reluctant-psychonaut-michael-pollan-embraces-the-new-science-of-psychedelics

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

I won't, personally, but I won't stop or judge others who are safe about it.

[amw]

Do it with another person around whom you can trust, and don't mix it with any other drugs (prescription or not). As far as I know the largest risk is just having a bad trip, it's not going to kill you or anything, but it might be unpleasant.

[BasilValentine]

If one has a tendency toward depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, definitely do not take LSD. Otherwise, the average dose on the street these days is apparently about a third the strength of that in the late 1960s and 70s, so prepare to be underwhelmed — or to take several hits. I'd start with one to be safe. Take blotter or microdot to avoid adulteration with other substances; It used to be common to cut larger tablets with speed, PCP or worse.

[vandermolen]

I won't, personally, but I won't stop or judge others who are safe about it.

+1

[aleazk]

Guys, don't do drugs, there are better things to do... like listening to music.

[snyprrr]

Are you trolling me?

[aleazk]

Why, you do both at the same time? 

[vandermolen]

Guys, don't do drugs, there are better things to do... like listening to music.

+1

[lisa needs braces]

Andrew Sullivan endorses pscyhedelics!

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/05/andrew-sullivan-why-we-should-say-yes-to-drugs.html?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=s3&utm_campaign=sharebutton-t

[Karl Henning]

Are you trolling me?

Put the soy lecithin down!

[Baron Scarpia]

Ingesting a chemical which alters your brain dynamics in an undefined way. What could go wrong?

[Ken B]

Andrew Sullivan endorses pscyhedelics!

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/05/andrew-sullivan-why-we-should-say-yes-to-drugs.html?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=s3&utm_campaign=sharebutton-t

Andrew Sullivan might be saner on LSD. Whatever he's been on the last 15 years is clearly much stronger.

[lisa needs braces]

Andrew Sullivan might be saner on LSD. Whatever he's been on the last 15 years is clearly much stronger.

[lisa needs braces]

Ingesting a chemical which alters your brain dynamics in an undefined way. What could go wrong?

We have a huge thread dedicated to our appreciation of the consumption of alcohol, the most deadly and damaging drug, aside from heroin or cocaine.

[Baron Scarpia]

We have a huge thread dedicated to our appreciation of the consumption of alcohol, the most deadly and damaging drug, aside from heroin or cocaine.

Alcohol is a metabolic suppressor. Clearly it is dangerous when abused. But it does not alter brain dynamics by binding to receptors, as opiates, cocaine or other psychotropic drugs do.

[Karl Henning]

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

[Mahlerian]

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

One major difference in my mind is that alcoholic beverages are enjoyed (by a large number of people) for many reasons other than merely their intoxicating effects, whereas the point of taking LSD or marijuana or some other recreational drug is for the effects, period, with anything else as an adjunct to that primary experience.

[BasilValentine]

Alcohol is a metabolic suppressor. Clearly it is dangerous when abused. But it does not alter brain dynamics by binding to receptors, as opiates, cocaine or other psychotropic drugs do.

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.

One major difference in my mind is that alcoholic beverages are enjoyed (by a large number of people) for many reasons other than merely their intoxicating effects, whereas the point of taking LSD or marijuana or some other recreational drug is for the effects, period, with anything else as an adjunct to that primary experience.

Sorry, but this is just wrong. All of the social and sensual effects of drinking are enjoyed equally by smokers of cannabis in various forms. Good hashish and weed is delicious — I'm told — and unlike gin or beer, it tastes and smells good the first time one tries it — or so I have heard. People use it a social lubricant and as something to share in group settings (the family that smokes together ...). Perhaps I'll try it one of these days.

[NikF]

I don't know. 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.