The History of LSD: From CIA Experiments to Silicon Valley

LSD has a fascinating and controversial history, from its accidental discovery to CIA experiments, to use amongst Silicon valley billionaires, today we cover it all.

The Beginning: Albert & His Bicycle

LSD was first synthesised in 1938 by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann while working on ergot derivatives at Sandoz Laboratories. 

On a Friday in the middle of WWII Hofmann inadvertently ingested a small amount of the substance, on Monday he wrote the following memo: 

“I was forced to interrupt my work in the laboratory in the middle of the afternoon and proceed home, being affected by a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness. At home I lay down and sank into a not unpleasant intoxicated-like condition, characterised by an extremely stimulated imagination. In a dream-like state, with eyes closed (I found the daylight to be unpleasantly glaring), I perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colours''

Three days later, on 19 April 1943, Hofmann intentionally ingested what he thought would represent a small safe amount, but it was actually a very strong dose 250 micrograms of LSD. At first, his trip was not pleasant, as people appeared to morph into fantastic creatures, office furniture moved and shifted like living entities, and he felt “possessed by otherworldly forces.”

April 19th is now widely known as “Bicycle Day” as Hofmann tried to ride his bike to the safety of his home when he began to feel the effects. 

This was the first intentional LSD trip in history.

Throughout the rest of his life Hoffman continued to take small doses of LSD, and always hoped to find a use for it. In his memoir, he emphasised it as a "sacred drug": "I see the true importance of LSD in the possibility of providing material aid to meditation aimed at the mystical experience of a deeper, comprehensive reality."

The Dark Days: CIA Experiments

In the 1950s, the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) began a series of covert experiments with LSD as part of a top-secret program known as Project MKUltra. The project aimed to investigate the potential use of LSD and other drugs for mind control, interrogation, and psychological warfare.

Under the guise of scientific research, the CIA administered LSD to unwitting subjects, including American citizens, military personnel, and foreign nationals. These experiments often took place in secret locations, such as safe houses and prisons, without the knowledge or consent of the participants.

One of the most notorious figures in the MKUltra program was Dr. Sidney Gottlieb, who headed the CIA's chemical division. Gottlieb believed that LSD could be used to break down an individual's defences and manipulate their behaviour. He oversaw numerous experiments in which subjects were dosed with LSD and then subjected to interrogation, hypnosis, and other forms of psychological manipulation.

The CIA also worked with various universities, hospitals, and research institutions to conduct LSD experiments under the pretence of legitimate scientific study. However, many of these experiments violated ethical standards and resulted in severe psychological trauma for the participants.

As the 1960s progressed and the public became more aware of the potential dangers of LSD, the CIA's involvement in LSD experimentation came under scrutiny. In 1975, the Church Committee of the United States Congress conducted an investigation into the CIA's activities, including Project MKUltra. The investigation revealed the extent of the agency's unethical and illegal practices, leading to public outrage and a significant loss of trust in the government.

Timothy Leary and the Rise of Recreational Use

As the CIA's experiments with LSD were being exposed, LSD was also gaining popularity among the counterculture movement of the 1960s. One of the most prominent figures in this era was Dr. Timothy Leary, a Harvard psychologist who became an advocate for the widespread use of LSD as a means of spiritual enlightenment and personal growth.

Leary's infamous motto, "Turn on, tune in, drop out," encapsulated the ethos of the psychedelic movement, which encouraged individuals to embrace altered states of consciousness and reject mainstream society. Leary's advocacy for LSD, along with its increasing availability, led to a surge in recreational use among young people and the development of a thriving black market for the drug.

Prohibition and the War on Drugs

As LSD's popularity grew, so did concerns about its potential dangers and social impact. Sensationalist media reports of "bad trips," psychotic breaks, and drug-related crimes fueled public fear and calls for government action.

In 1968, the United States government classified LSD as a Schedule I drug, effectively criminalising its possession, distribution, and use. This decision marked the beginning of the "War on Drugs," a sweeping campaign to crack down on the use and trafficking of illegal substances, including psychedelics.

The prohibition of LSD had a chilling effect on scientific research into its potential therapeutic applications, as well as on the counterculture movement that had embraced the drug as a tool for personal and social transformation.

To this day many people believe the government's decision to ban LSD was because they were scared of people not adhering to cultural norms which could have caused a mass of people to reject the “American dream” and therefore end up not working or paying into the system.

Modern Research and the Microdosing Trend

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, including LSD. This psychedelic renaissance has been driven by a growing body of scientific evidence suggesting that these substances may have significant benefits for mental health and well-being.

Researchers at institutions like Johns Hopkins University and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) are conducting clinical trials to investigate the efficacy of LSD and other psychedelics in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Use in Silicon Valley

LSD has been the secret weapon for many Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, notably Steve Jobs was a massive advocate of it, which we covered in our recent piece “The CEO’s That Swear By Psychedelics”.

The trend has grown massively in Silicon Valley and other tech hubs. Microdosing. Has become commonplace with users claiming the practice enhances creativity, focus, and problem-solving abilities without the intense and potentially disruptive effects of a full-dose psychedelic experience.

What’s Next 

While the legal status of LSD remains largely unchanged, the shifting cultural attitudes towards psychedelics and the promising results of modern research suggest that the history of this fascinating substance is far from over.

We may see LSD adopted in medicine one day soon to treat mental conditions like anxiety and alcoholism, and who knows maybe that will be the catalyst to eventual full legalisation… Only time will tell.