The 1960s would not have been the same without LSD, which changed American culture. The change came about due to the discovery of LSD (acid) by a Swiss chemist known as Albert Hofman on November 16, 1938. The discovery was discarded for five years until Albert decided to go back to LSD, he thought it had a medical use but it wasn't. not yet fully explored. During his research Albert accidentally absorbed acid through his hands, this was the first time acid was ever felt by a human being. Twenty years later, chemists around the world are producing the drug. In the Americas the acid was produced in many private laboratories and universities. Dr. Timothy Leary was a professor of psychology at Harvard during this time. After his first experience with a similar hallucinogenic drug (psilocybin mushrooms) he founded a study to test the effects of psychedelic drugs. He also went on to create The League for Spiritual Discovery, a religion that claimed LSD as a holy sacrament and must be kept legal for religious freedom. This is just one example of how the drug was a powerful force driving acceptance just as medical marijuana is doing today. Just like any drug, LSD eventually made its way from the laboratory to the streets. Abuse of any substance attracts attention, concentrated use in the United States in the 1960s attracted the attention of the federal government. The acid could be legally produced in America until 1965, when it was then marked as having zero medical use and became a scheduled drug. This didn't stop anyone from making the drug; strong demand for an odorless and virtually weightless drug could mean big profits. Acid continued to flood society, with its acceptance by many monumental people, from musicians to scholars. John Lennon... in the center of the paper... mortal, loses inhibitions and has distorted perceptions. Acid is not harmless, but most people who have had bad "bad trip" experiences are already in a bad mood or in the wrong environment. It's strange that in a generation where it seems like a new drug is being produced every week, one would think that LSD would lose its effectiveness. charm. Surprisingly enough this did not happen, but LSD still attracts willing subjects today. History also tells us that acid guided the visions of shamans and seers long before the chemical was discovered in the laboratory. This to me makes acid different; it has been part of the human race for thousands of years. Maybe it's the promise it offers, a mysterious journey for people whose lives aren't full of excitement and adventure. Perhaps today LSD is simply a way of self-examination, but if you are not aware of the risks you should have nothing to do with the drug.