How LSD Works

# Stuff You Should Know: LSD

This episode dives deep into the fascinating history of LSD, from its accidental discovery by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann in 1943 to its brief period as a legal psychiatric medicine in the 1950s and 60s. Josh and Chuck debunk common myths about LSD causing chromosome damage and brain holes, then trace how the drug went from promising therapeutic tool to public enemy number one, ultimately shutting down decades of potentially beneficial research. They also explore the chemistry behind making LSD, the various forms it takes (blotter acid, windowpane, gel tabs), and how changing drug laws—like a wild Supreme Court ruling about weighing paper with the drug—have shaped its legal landscape.