Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is one of fungi’s most well known chemical analogues. Today we bring you a leading scientist, Dr. David Nichols who speaks to the history, chemistry, legality and so much more of this notable compound.

Topics covered:

David Nichol’s career pursuing psychedelic pharmacology
Patent litigation, especially with psychedelic constituents
Lab testing for new psychedelic analogues in rats
Bureaucracy of working with Schedule I substances
How to synthesize LSD
LSD’s physical characteristics, structure and fluorescence
What happens to the LSD molecule when you adjust minute aspects, and what that tells us about itself
Structural similarities and differences in an array of psychedelic molecules / chemical ‘templates’ for psychoactive compounds
Neuro-mechanics of LSD and other entheogenic compounds
Evolution and function of serotonin receptors
HPPD: Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder
Trepanation: how does it affect neurochemistry, if at all?
NBOMes (N-benzyl methoxy): What is it and how does it work?
Metabolizing LSD and related compounds
Chirality in psychedelics, especially LSD
Listener questions

Show notes:

Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia feat. Dr. Nichols: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N4VoqeuK3s

Hallucinogens (2004) : https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14761703/

DEA 222 - https://dehs.umn.edu/using-dea-form-222-order-controlled-substances

Mapping the Mind Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hfsIbib_50

MAPS Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxjCSKMbZBA

Telluride Keynote presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlDCM5JQzRk

Leo Perutz & the Mystery of St Peter’s Snow: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2752/175169713X13589680082172

Trepanation articles & video: https://lostmediawiki.com/Heartbeat_in_the_Brain_(partially_found_Amanda_Fielding_trepanation_documentary;_1970)

Downloadable literature: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14N9VdXGFlLvjnShYRH2MRurNi54a77Ig?usp=sharing

LSD & Psychedelic Chemistry