1938

Albert Hofmann, a chemist working for Sandoz Pharmaceutical, synthesizes LSD-25 for the first time in Basel, Switzerland while looking for a blood stimulant. LSD research is not continued until 5 yrs later.   

Apr 16, 1943

Albert Hofmann accidentally experiences a small amount of LSD for the first time. This is the first human experience with pure LSD-25. He reports seeing "an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopelike play of colors." The experience lasted just over two hours.   

Apr 19, 1943

Bicycle Day - Albert Hofmann intentionally takes (250 ug) LSD for the first time. This is the first intentional us of LSD.

1947

First article on LSD's mental effects published by Werner Stoll in the Swiss Archives of Neurology.   

1949

Dr. Max Rinkel brings LSD to the United States from Sandoz Pharmaceuticals in Switzerland and initiates work with LSD in Boston; Nick Bercel commences LSD study in Los Angeles.

1950 - 1960

Hundreds of papers published discussing LSD.   

May 1950

First article about LSD appears in the American Psychiatric Journal.

1951

CIA becomes aware of and begins experimenting with LSD.   

1951

Al Hubbard first tries LSD.

1952

Charles Savage publishes the first study on the use of LSD to treat depression.   

1953

First LSD clinic opened to the public in England under Ronald Sandison. Separately, unwitting subjects in the United States were given LSD in the CIA funded Project MK-Ultra to test the effects of the drug.   

1953

Dr. Humphrey Osmond begins treating alcoholics with LSD.

1955

First conferences focusing on LSD and mescaline take place in Atlantic City and Princeton, N.J.   

1955

Aldous Huxley first takes LSD. The publication of Huxley's 'Heaven and Hell'.

1959

Josiah Macy Foundation sponsors major scientific congress on LSD.

1959

Allen Ginsberg tries LSD for the first time.

1960

Harvard University 's Timothy Leary establishes the Psychedelic Research Project.   

1962

Congress passes new drug safety regulations and the FDA designates LSD an experimental drug and restricts research. The first LSD related arrests are made by the FDA.

1963

LSD first appears on the streets (liquid on sugar cubes). Articles about LSD first appear in mainstream media (Look, Saturday Evening Post).

May 1963

Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert are fired from Harvard.

Feb 1965

Owsley "Bear" Stanley first succeeded in synthesizing crystalline LSD. Earliest distribution was March 1965.

1966

Leary founds the League of Spiritual Development, with LSD as the sacrement.

Mar 25, 1966

Life publishes cover article on LSD. "LSD: The Exploding Threat of the Mind Drug that Got Out of Control".   

Apr 1966

Sandoz Pharmaceutical recalled the LSD it had previously distributed and withdrew its sponsorship for work with LSD.

Oct 6, 1966

LSD becomes illegal in California.

1967

Summer of Love in San Francisco. First human be-in.   

1967

LSD banned federally in the U.S.   

Summer 1969

Orange sunshine acid first appears.

1970

An estimated 1-2 million Americans have used LSD.   

Oct 27, 1970

The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act is passed. Part II of this is the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) which defines a scheduling system for drugs. It places most of the known hallucinogens (LSD, psilocybin, psilocin, mescaline, peyote, cannabis, & MDA) in Schedule I. It places coca, cocaine and injectable methamphetamine in Schedule II. Other amphetamines and stimulants, including non-injectable methamphetamine are placed in Schedule III.   

1971

Windowpane acid first appears.

Early 1970s

LSD impregnated paper ("blotter") first hit the streets. Very quickly the paper began being printed with colorful art.   

mid 1970's

Blotter paper begins to emerge as the most common form of LSD sold on the street. Previously it had been tablets and powder, but blotter and gel-tabs proved more consistent in purity and potency.

1979

Albert Hofmann publishes "LSD: My Problem Child."