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Delta

I think I know basically what you're trying to say, but I would have to disagree with that statement to an extent. It's really more of an issue of so many people not understanding psychedelics. They're not party drugs. They're powerful substances that can open doors in the mind that otherwise could only be obtained through deep meditation and spirituality. Many people don't recognize this and fail to treat them with proper respect, and as a result experience a bad trip or sometimes worse.

 

Hashishi

For clarification, this discussion is NOT about LSD - it is about an iconic figure whose pharmacological work inspired the dawning of the counter-culture and had great bearing on the drug war- indeed, he was very outspoken on the latter topic.

SOURCE

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SWP



"I'm not into this detail stuff. I'm more concepty." -- "If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer, and if I don't, I'll just respond, cleverly." -- "Secretary Powell and I agree on every single issue that has ever been before this administration except for those instances where Colin's still learning." -- "As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns: the ones we don't know we don't know."

Bernie420

He said it wasn't his fault that people abused his creation. He does share some of the blame though.

Buzzby

If I make a chef's knife and someone else decides to cut his throat with it, would I share some of the blame?

Albert Hoffman never encouraged casual use of LSD. If anyone is to blame for that, it would be Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and, to some extent, Timothy Leary.

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sterbo

Of course not. It's called 'personal responsibility.'
And they're not to blame either.
If I tell one or more persons that cannabis can be a wonderful adjunct to one's life in many ways and then someone tries it and has a problem?
I then need to share responsibly for their actions?
Hardly, it's called,
'personal responsibility...

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Delta

Good point, Sterbo, but I do think Timothy Leary should share some blame. He encouraged teenagers to drop acid, essentially even if they weren't prepared for it. He had the right idea, but was far too reckless and irresponsible with his message.

sterbo

Indeed? I'm not sure where you got that idea.
I spent most of my teenage years, 1961 onwards, living in San Francisco and Southern California.
I was at the Gathering of the Tribes (better known as "The Human Be-In") in Golden Gate Park in the summer of '67.
That was truly a transforming moment for me, my friends and so many of those who were fortunate enough to be there.

Tim Leary led a vanguard that forever changed the spiritual landscape that helped shape the very core of our being.
I don't ever remember a careless word (my opinion of course) from Leary all through those formative years of mine.
Just sage advice regarding LSD and spirituality which helped forge my metaphysical being.

Yes, there were many, in those years and years thereafter, who approached psychedelics with a cavalier attitude. But Timothy Leary was not one of them.
I will forever be grateful of a man who was painfully brilliant while of course flawed, who was a Shaman of great faith for those of us blessed enough to be 16 living here in California in the Summer of Love...

Delta

Well, I'll take your word for it considering you were there (lucky ). I'd still say that as a whole he was at least a little reckless though.

Bernie420

If you designed the atom bomb and someone took that bomb and blew up a city, would you share some of the blame?

Delta

The atom bomb was designed with the intention of killing people. Albert Hoffman created LSD essentially on accident, and wanted nothing but to help people with it, and only in a controlled, safe context. Up until the 1960's, LSD was considered a wonder drug with no side effects if administered properly.