# LSD to Ergot?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lsd-to-ergot/296240>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [March 25, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lsd-to-ergot/296240 "2005-03-25T19:34:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![1point618](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/c57346/32.png) [@1point618](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1point618)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lsd-to-ergot/296240/1 "2005-03-25T19:34:58Z")

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In the recent [SD collumn](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050325.html), Cecil uses the phrase “drugs ranging from LSD to ergot.” Now, correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t LSD made directly from (or was at one point) ergot? If this is true, then is Cecil trying to tell us the dangers of LSD, or was he just not thinking about drug history?

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**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lsd-to-ergot/296240/2 "2005-03-25T22:44:14Z")

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Though ergotamine alkaloids are natural precursors to LSD, I believe the context would be to the effect of the spectrum of bizarre and nasty behaviors being associated to incidents ranging between accidental ingestion of naturally-ocurring ergot fungus (e.g. witch scares in the distant past) to the deliberate experiments with LSD in the 50s and 60s, to PCP.

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**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lsd-to-ergot/296240/3 "2005-03-25T23:01:52Z")

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The paragraph in question is specifically about psychedelic drugs.

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**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lsd-to-ergot/296240/4 "2005-03-26T04:58:30Z")

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> [@1point618](#):
>
> Now, correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t LSD made directly from (or was at one point) ergot?

I’m going to go Grandpa _Homer_ Simpson on you, remembering the 70s: That reminds me of a commercial that mentioned this diner had “the best coffee between Council Bluffs and Omaha.” The Missouri River is all that stands between Council Bluffs, IA, and Omaha, NE.

Later in the 70s I was at my grandmother’s wake. In the next room was the wake for a Mrs Hoffman. I met her son while having a cigarette and he told me how his cousin, Albert, had invented LSD. Young Mr Hoffman appeared to be tripping _for his own mother’s wake._ **dropmom** , if you happen to go first, though I doubt it, I promise I won’t do more than drink at your wake.