History of LSD

In 1938, a Swiss chemist named Albert Hofmann synthesized LSD for the first time while studying ergots, a type of fungus. Though the pharmaceutical company that he worked for, Sandoz, didn’t have any interest in the compound, Hofmann found himself inexplicably drawn to it. Five years later, in the spring of 1943, he synthesized it again, noticing that it seemed to have unusual properties: After accidentally absorbing small amounts through his fingertips one day in the lab, Hoffman experienced what he called “a not unpleasant intoxicated-like condition.” A few days later, he experimented with taking about 250 micrograms. He thought this was a small dose of LSD, but 100 micrograms is the common dose today. As you may expect, the experience was extreme. In his book, LSD: My Problem Child, he describes what happened and how it altered his perspective.