New Study Is The First Ever To Map The Human Brain On LSD

Psychedelics have been subject to an array of stigma and hysteria over the course of recent decades; the War on Drugs has sought to destroy the reputation of many compounds and plants, classifying them as dangerous and severely restricting their scientific research. Self-experimentation has been made illegal and one-sided science, along with an enormous propaganda effort, have portrayed them as mania-inducing, ambition-annihilating tools of escapism.

The 21st century is witnessing somewhat of a reformation in this area. Empirical science is providing the catalyst that is enabling psychedelics to shed the cocoon of scrutiny and judgment, and to reemerge as a respected and revered tool of consciousness expansion and therapeutic healing.

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is one such compound. Heavily controlled, it is classified as a Schedule I drug in the U.S., and a Class A substance in the UK. Mere possession of the psychedelic can lead to a long stint in prison. For these reasons, academics interested in studying LSD run the risk of being ostracized by their peers, and as a result there have been no studies involving LSD in the UK for over 50 years, as the Irish Examiner pointed out.

However, the five decade long scientific blockade has recently started to crumble at the hands of a trio of courageous researchers consisting of Amanda Fielding, founder of independent research organization The Beckley Foundation; Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris of Imperial College London; and Professor David Nutt, also of Imperial College and formerly the UK government’s adviser on drugs.