# Questions about LSD in modern times **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 23, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243 "2005-01-23T13:29:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/1 "2005-01-23T13:29:41Z")
I don’t seem to hear much about LSD anymore. Is true LSD still being sold and consumed? My own college experience from 10 years ago tells me that what was being sold as “blotter acid” was more likely MDMA or methamphetamine and I wonder if that’s a widespread occurrence. Also, it seems that much is known about the cultivation, trafficking, economics and marketing of other drugs like marijuana, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and so forth. Is there a similar body of knowledge on LSD? Mainly I wonder who is making it and how much money is being spent annually relative to the more famous drugs. Please do not respond with any information on how to make, sell, or purchase any controlled substances or how to break the law in any way. ---
**Author:** ![ninetypercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@ninetypercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninetypercent)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/2 "2005-01-23T14:23:57Z")
It is impossible to fit enough methamphetamine or MDMA on a blotter. An average dose of MDMA/Meth is 1000 times greater than an average dose of LSD. LSD is much more difficult to make than other drugs. The two people responsible for something like 90% of the LSD in the U.S. were busted a few years ago, so it is not as widely available. It is, as of now, making a comeback. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/3 "2005-01-23T15:35:34Z")
You are going to have to forgive me for not having a good cite at the moment. However, in psychopharmacolgy class, we had a lecture about street drugs. Marijuana was many times stronger now than in the 60’s in terms of THC content. LSD was hard to find but was much more weak now than then. Not sure why. LSD production is difficult chemically but it only takes micrograms to put on a sheet and one batch can make thousands or more of then. Nevertheless, 60’s style LSD appears to be extremely difficult to locate. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/4 "2005-01-23T16:22:08Z")
Here are two [DEA publications](http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/doj/dea/product/lsd/lsd-4.htm) with their [perspective on LSD](http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/lsd.html) (and their [information page aimed at kids](http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/straight/lsd.htm)). Department of Justice: [Intelligence Bulletin: LSD Trafficking and Abuse](http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs11/11379/) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/5 "2005-01-23T16:47:03Z")
Here’s another [DEA sheet](http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/doj/dea/product/lsd/lsd-8.htm) about the availability and pricing of LSD in various jurisdictions. I had no idea the stuff was so cheap! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/6 "2005-01-23T18:52:21Z")
Amphetamine substitutes might not fit on a blotter, but 5-MeO-AMT does. There have been reports of fatal overdoses of people, thiking they got acid, but actually got 5-MeO-AMT. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/7 "2005-01-23T19:02:25Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Here’s another [DEA sheet](http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/doj/dea/product/lsd/lsd-8.htm) about the availability and pricing of LSD in various jurisdictions. > > I had no idea the stuff was so cheap! :eek: I can’t seem to find the “Add to Shopping Cart” button, dammit! ---
**Author:** ![ninetypercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@ninetypercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninetypercent)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/8 "2005-01-23T19:24:59Z")
> [@II Gyan II](#): > > Amphetamine substitutes might not fit on a blotter, but 5-MeO-AMT does. There have been reports of fatal overdoses of people, thiking they got acid, but actually got 5-MeO-AMT. Not really. A “medium” dose(4mg) of 5-MeO-AMT is 40 times greater than an average dose of LSD(100mcg) ---
**Author:** ![ninetypercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@ninetypercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninetypercent)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/9 "2005-01-23T19:29:39Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > You are going to have to forgive me for not having a good cite at the moment. However, in psychopharmacolgy class, we had a lecture about street drugs. Marijuana was many times stronger now than in the 60’s in terms of THC content. … People grow marijuana the same now as they did in the 60’s. The most potent marijuana is ~20% THC. Very few people will ever see marijuana that strong. Your information is government propaganda. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/10 "2005-01-23T19:37:36Z")
LSD is much rarer than it used to be for a couple of reasons. First, the Greatful Dead stopped touring, which cut off one huge line of distribution. Second, there was a [huge bust](http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2000/12/07/MN154990.DTL) that took out the biggest manufacturer of LSD. The cited article says Pickard was manufacturing 33% of the LSD sold in the United States, but a later article I read estimated it may have been as much as 85%. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/11 "2005-01-23T19:48:23Z")
So the term “modern times” now applies only to the last ten years? ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/12 "2005-01-23T20:05:17Z")
> [@ninetypercent](#): > > Not really. A “medium” dose(4mg) of 5-MeO-AMT is 40 times greater than an average dose of LSD(100mcg) 100 mics is an average dose? :wally Seriously, I’ve read (no cites right now) that a blotter can absorb upto a few mg. Take it with a blotter worth of salt. What I do know for sure, is that some of the “acid” going around in vials is 5-MeO-AMT. There was a [death](http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2004/10/19/local/doc41749c12c2160943501510.txt) three months ago, attributed to LSD. Apparently, it [wasn’t](http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/lsd/lsd_media2.shtml). Can someone with access to relevant databases check if charges were filed? I suppose those would mention the substance. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/13 "2005-01-23T21:57:21Z")
> [@](#): > > People grow marijuana the same now as they did in the 60’s. True, but better cultivating over the decades has resulted in stronger weed, kind of like how modern crops are the result of cultivation to cull the crappy plants from the strong ones. Plus, I imagine hydroponic growth of reefer has enhanced the potency of the crop. As for acid, it’s hard to get, and frankly, I wouldn’t trust just any ol’ Lucy I came across on the street. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/14 "2005-01-23T22:01:11Z")
> [@](#): > > 100 mics is an average dose? It depends. You’d need something like 25 micrograms (running off of memory here) to start to feel any effects from the drug. Then, back in the '60s, the average dose was reportedly something like 350 micrograms. Nowadays I believe it’s significantly less, so 100 micrograms sounds 'bout right. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/15 "2005-01-23T22:31:32Z")
> [@NattoGuy](#): > > Please do not respond with any information on how to make, sell, or purchase any controlled substances or how to break the law in any way. **Well, there goes my post. Drats.** :smack: ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/16 "2005-01-23T22:32:07Z")
> [@NattoGuy](#): > > I don’t seem to hear much about LSD anymore. Is true LSD still being sold and consumed? My own college experience from 10 years ago tells me that what was being sold as “blotter acid” was more likely MDMA or methamphetamine and I wonder if that’s a widespread occurrence. > > Also, it seems that much is known about the cultivation, trafficking, economics and marketing of other drugs like marijuana, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and so forth. Is there a similar body of knowledge on LSD? Mainly I wonder who is making it and how much money is being spent annually relative to the more famous drugs. > > Please do not respond with any information on how to make, sell, or purchase any controlled substances or how to break the law in any way. In the US, there is still some LSD around, but it tends to be only scarcely available. Generally the Pickard bust is considered to be the reason why. Because LSD isn’t addictive, organized crime sees little profit in making LSD. And because it is so difficult to make, there aren’t many producers. Pickard literally was making almost all the LSD for the US market. It makes the DEA’s job a lot easier when there are only a few producers to take out. However, with pot there are many thousands of growers, most fairly small scale. Near impossible for the DEA to win the war on pot. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/17 "2005-01-23T22:33:08Z")
> [@ninetypercent](#): > > People grow marijuana the same now as they did in the 60’s. The most potent marijuana is ~20% THC. Very few people will ever see marijuana that strong. Your information is government propaganda. It wasn’t government propaganda as you say. This was from an internationally known psychopharmacology professor at a private university that is a good friend of mine. I am sure that the biological limits of THC concentration of the same then as they are today. I am talking about the average THC level of majijuana on then street then versus today. ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/18 "2005-01-23T22:39:04Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Here’s another [DEA sheet](http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/doj/dea/product/lsd/lsd-8.htm) about the availability and pricing of LSD in various jurisdictions. > > I had no idea the stuff was so cheap! :eek: Check that page closely. It repeatedly mention 1993 and 1994. And includes stuff like “LSD has increased in availability in Illinois in recent years. Several forms of LSD have been encountered: microdots (obtained from persons following the Grateful Dead Band tour on the East Coast)…”. The Grateful Dead broke up in 1995. That DEA info is WAY out of date. ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/19 "2005-01-23T22:45:52Z")
Back in the middle 60’s, my ex-wife got our acid from the Angels in Oakland, some of whom she knew. It came in sugar cubes of 250 mics and 500 mics. The first time I tried it, I took a 250 mic cube. After about three hours, I liked it so much I took a 500 mic cube. **Everything** ensued! ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243/20 "2005-01-23T22:50:35Z")
> [@SPOOFE](#): > > It depends. You’d need something like 25 micrograms (running off of memory here) to start to feel any effects from the drug. Then, back in the '60s, the average dose was reportedly something like 350 micrograms. Nowadays I believe it’s significantly less, so 100 micrograms sounds 'bout right. The average “hit” of LSD (as in one tab) in the US in recent memory has been more in the range of 50-75 mcg. Of course, a user can take a dose of multiple hits at once. Potency of a hit of LSD in the 1960s typically was about 200-300 mcg. The much lower doses today have 3 advantages. #1) This is just an advantage for the dealer. Lower doses means from a given amount of LSD he can sell more hits. So long as people will buy low dose hits, the dealer makes more money. As in recent years it’s been a sellers market for LSD, the dealer has the upper hand. #2) With lower dose per hit, far less likely some inexperienced user taking just one hit will “freak out”, and do something stupid that injures or kills him. It’s bad for business to kill customers. Also, when deaths do happen, the police often go out of their way to nail the dealer who sold the drug. #3) There are many out there who like low dose LSD trips. Think here of using LSD at a rave, club, etc. In that environment you don’t want a “mind blowing” dose. Thus, those who take LSD at a club can take a one hit “disco dose”, and those who want a mind-blowing journey to the center of the mind sort of trip can take 6 or more hits. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-lsd-in-modern-times/286243.md?page=2)