The Role Of LSD And Politics In The 1960's
LSD and Politics in the 1960’s
Joseph Archer
The 1960’s: A Global Counter Cultural Movement
Fall 2014
Lysergic acid diethylamide, more commonly known as LSD or acid is a powerful hallucinogenic drug that fascinated a generation of Americans during the 1960’s. LSD was first discovered by Albert Hofmann accidently in 1938 while he was looking for a blood stimulant. In 1943 Hofmann would discover the psychedelic effects of the drug by accidentally consuming some in his lab. While the discovery of LSD was an important event that accidently started a new counter culture, the drug was not popularized until the 1960’s by individuals such as Timothy Leary and Ken Kesey. During this time period, LSD saw an increase in popularity due …show more content…
In 1966, a senate subcommittee hearing was called by Senator Thomas Dodds, a Democrat from Connecticut, to debate the benefits and risks of LSD. The subcommittee was called due to the rapidly increasingly public interest of LSD and because the effects of the chemical were still not clear (hiseng). Thomas Dodd spoke out against the use of LSD and wanted to stop the spread of the drug among America’s youth. Ted Kennedy, a Senator from Massachusetts, was also for the prohibition of LSD and helped Dodds during the interviews and interrogations, including one of the most important testimonies at the hearing, Timothy Leary’s …show more content…
He argued that “the challenge of the psychedelic chemicals is not just how to control them, but how to use them” (History). Leary also argued that “LSD and many other psychedelic drugs were not dangerous if used wisely and with precautions” (History). During the hearing Leary also presented to the court good ideas for licensing LSD in order for responsible consumption of LSD. He also wanted the license to force users to be highly trained to prevent accidents with the drug. Leary wanted LSD to be used for “serious purposes, such as spiritual growth, pursuit of knowledge, or their own personal development” (History). Leary thought that without a licence system in place, another prohibition would be created and that in turn would create a new group of college-educated white-collar criminals. Overall, Leary was an advocate for LSD and argued for its legislation during the
Joseph Archer
The 1960’s: A Global Counter Cultural Movement
Fall 2014
Lysergic acid diethylamide, more commonly known as LSD or acid is a powerful hallucinogenic drug that fascinated a generation of Americans during the 1960’s. LSD was first discovered by Albert Hofmann accidently in 1938 while he was looking for a blood stimulant. In 1943 Hofmann would discover the psychedelic effects of the drug by accidentally consuming some in his lab. While the discovery of LSD was an important event that accidently started a new counter culture, the drug was not popularized until the 1960’s by individuals such as Timothy Leary and Ken Kesey. During this time period, LSD saw an increase in popularity due …show more content…
In 1966, a senate subcommittee hearing was called by Senator Thomas Dodds, a Democrat from Connecticut, to debate the benefits and risks of LSD. The subcommittee was called due to the rapidly increasingly public interest of LSD and because the effects of the chemical were still not clear (hiseng). Thomas Dodd spoke out against the use of LSD and wanted to stop the spread of the drug among America’s youth. Ted Kennedy, a Senator from Massachusetts, was also for the prohibition of LSD and helped Dodds during the interviews and interrogations, including one of the most important testimonies at the hearing, Timothy Leary’s …show more content…
He argued that “the challenge of the psychedelic chemicals is not just how to control them, but how to use them” (History). Leary also argued that “LSD and many other psychedelic drugs were not dangerous if used wisely and with precautions” (History). During the hearing Leary also presented to the court good ideas for licensing LSD in order for responsible consumption of LSD. He also wanted the license to force users to be highly trained to prevent accidents with the drug. Leary wanted LSD to be used for “serious purposes, such as spiritual growth, pursuit of knowledge, or their own personal development” (History). Leary thought that without a licence system in place, another prohibition would be created and that in turn would create a new group of college-educated white-collar criminals. Overall, Leary was an advocate for LSD and argued for its legislation during the