Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) has been illegal in the United States for over half a century. But if it’s not addictive, has little potential for abuse, and doesn’t have a known lethal dose, why is it prohibited?
The Days of Legal LSD
Albert Hofmann, a Swiss scientist, first discovered LSD in 1938. It was synthesized from lysergic acid, a chemical derived from an alkaloid found in the ergot fungus.
Hofmann had been trying to develop a new type of analeptic, a type of central nervous system stimulant, and as LSD was the 25th compound, he named it LSD-25.
5 years later, Hofmann accidentally ingested the substance, discovered its hallucinogenic effects, and realized he was onto something special.
Hofmann continued to experiment with this new chemical and in the 1950s and 1960s, it was in common use throughout the United States.
Rock bands were singing about it, authors were writing about it, and it was the subject of many intriguing clinical trials into mental health disorders and substance abuse.
At the time, research suggested that psychedelics like LSD and magic mushrooms could even help terminally ill patients come to terms with their situation.
The counterculture was in full swing and it seemed like psychedelics would play a big role in the future of the United States.
But that future never arrived.
When Was LSD Banned?
In 1966, the Drug Abuse Control Amendment was passed by Congress. The new law didn’t outright prohibit the manufacture of LSD, but it allowed for the prosecution of parties deemed to be illegitimately manufacturing and selling the drug.
Numerous research projects were also shut down.
In the same year, hearings were held to discuss the ban on LSD. In hindsight, we tend to think of the entire government of this period as being anti-drug use and somewhat hypercritical, but that wasn’t the case. Many senators were against such a ban, including Robert Kennedy, who wondered how a drug could go from being so promising to being so despised in less than a year.
The scientific community also fought against a ban, but their efforts were fruitless.
The 1970 Controlled Substances Act was the final nail in the drug’s coffin. LSD and other drugs were already outlawed, but the Controlled Substances Act consolidated and clarified the laws.
The act placed all regulated substances into five different categories, graded based on medicinal value, harmfulness, and the risk of abuse and addiction.
Surprisingly, LSD was placed into Schedule I. This means that it is defined as a drug with absolutely no recognized medical use and a high potential for abuse.
It’s a categorization that seemed contrary to everything we knew about the drug, but it’s one that the authorities stood by. To this day, LSD is a Schedule I drug in the United States.
What About Other Countries?
In 1971, a treaty known as the Convention of Psychotropic Substances was drafted by the United Nations. The treaty required all participating parties to prohibit the use of LSD, and as those parties currently include over 180 member states, it has effectively banned LSD in most countries around the world.
Each of these countries has its own laws with regard to how LSD is controlled, but they have all banned the drug. What’s more, many nations have adopted the same strict stance as the United States.
In the United Kingdom, LSD is Class A, which is the equivalent of Schedule I. In Australia, it is Schedule 9, which means it has a high risk of abuse and misuse.
Why is LSD Illegal?
There are a few arguments for and against the legalization of LSD. There are also many arguments concerning its status as a Schedule I drug.
Let’s try and look at this from both sides.
Some have argued that LSD shouldn’t be placed in the same category as heroin, as it shows some promise in the treatment of depression and anxiety while heroin is physically addictive, dangerous, and non-therapeutic.
But LSD hasn’t been approved to treat any medical condition inside or outside the United States. Heroin, on the other hand, is actually used in the United Kingdom, where it is given to terminally ill patients.
What’s more, all of the drugs listed under Schedule II and below have actually been recognized for their medical use, including opioids, which are used as painkillers, and Adderall, which is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.
Even methamphetamine is classified as a Schedule II drug. It seems preposterous that such an addictive, dangerous, and widely abused drug could be in a lower category than LSD, but that’s because it has been approved for the treatment of ADHD (in the form of Desoxyn).
It seems that “medicinal use”, or the lack thereof, is the main argument for LSD being a Schedule I substance.
What’s more, while LSD is nowhere near as damaging as countless other regulated drugs, it’s still something that needs to be treated with respect.
LSD can cause a condition known as Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), which results in minor visual hallucinations that occur sporadically. It can also cause flashbacks. What’s more, during a very bad trip, users are more likely to cause harm to themselves and others, with most LSD injuries being the result of accidents.
Of course, regulation is a complicated matter and there is no simple solution. But it’s fair to say that LSD has been given a bad rap over the last half-century and deserves way more respect.
Will LSD Use Ever Be Legal in the USA?
There has been a resurgence of psychedelic use and research in the last ten years, and it could bode well for the future of LSD.
The movement for decriminalization has largely revolved around magic mushrooms, but if psilocybin mushrooms are legalized or decriminalized, it seems likely that LSD will follow at some point.
As with have seen with marijuana, however, these things don’t happen overnight, and legalization is usually a slow and gradual process.
What Happens if You Get Caught in Possession of LSD?
LSD possession is usually prosecuted at a state level, so the penalties vary by state. Possession of a small amount of LSD will typically result in a misdemeanor charge but large amounts and/or a proven intent to distribute could result in a felony charge.
Your previous criminal history will also be taken into account.