LSD
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LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide-25, is a psychedelic drug. It is a synthetic chemical similar to the ergot family, which occur naturally in some plant diseases. The substance can bring about changes in the human nervous system in such small quantities that it was not, at first, believed possible (as little as 50 micrograms). It acts on the human nervous system by rapidly crossing the blood-brain barrier and blocking the receptor sites responsible for stopping a neuron from firing and communicating a stimulus to the next neuron in a neural pathway. So your neurons just keep firing merrily away, resulting in various optical and mental special effects.
Although it was initially experimented with as a drug with potential psychiatric and/or military uses, its recreational use quickly became more significant. This was partly a result of some of the "test subjects" in University research programs reporting that some of what they experienced was, well, something they wanted to do again. As soon as the government found out that people were using it to have "fun", it was made illegal.
The U.S. government's CIA also experimented briefly with using it as a truth serum, among other things, but gave up when the results on the subjects proved to be too unpredictable for government work. They later switched to other drugs such as prozac.
While it can be used purely "recreationally", as in, "oh, man, I'm so high my face is melting -- and so is yours", it has also been used by many in more positive, although still amateur, pursuits. These include seeking greater insight into life's mysteries, greater understanding of our oneness with life,[1] and the always important speculation as to why Jimi Hendrix needed to be excused in order to "kiss this guy".
LSD is also an acronym for the pre-decimal British money system, and for limited slip differential, neither of which can make a weekend last eight days.
[edit] See Also
- Jerry Garcia
- Aldous Huxley
- Timothy Leary
- Richard Alpert (Baba Ram Dass)
- John Lennon
- Robert Anton Wilson
- Project MKULTRA
- Ken Kesey
- Other ways of knowing
- Kool-Aid drinker
[edit] References, notes, and random leftover thoughtfood
- ↑ intense contemplation of the hidden meanings on Beatles and Pink Floyd album covers, a more developed sense of humor (i.e. uncontrollable laughter at everything), inspiration for audiovisual special effects via watching teh trippy effects from moving your handses around...
