Dr. Albert Hofmann at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals in Basel, Switzerland first synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in 1938. In the 1960s, several people began advocating the recreational use of LSD among the general public, believing it had psychiatric benefits. However, governments became wary of its widespread recreational use and extensive research was inconclusive, leading to LSD being declared illegal globally in October 1968.

1. LY S E R G I C A C I D
D I E T H Y L A M I D E
L S D

2. D R . A L B E R T
H O F F M A N AT
S A N D O Z
P H A R M A C E U T I C A L S
I N B A S E L ,
S W I T Z E R L A N D .
• First synthesized in 1938
• Introduced commercially in
1947
• Introduced as a drug with
various psychiatric uses

3. R E C R E AT I O N A L
U S E
• Potent hallucinogenic drug
• Several people, including
Aldous Hoxley, Timothy
Leary, and Al Hubbard,
began advocating use of
LSD in the general public
• 1960's

4. S C I E N T I F I C
S TA N D P O I N T
• Extensive research and
testing
• Psychotomimetic
• Experimented with
alcoholics

5. I L L E G A L I Z AT I O N
• government became
increasingly apprehensive
• Widespread use
• globally illegal in October
of 1968