Dr. Albert Hofmann, Father of LSD, Dead at 102
Internet rumors of his passing have been confirmed for us by a friend of Dr. Hofmann's. Dr. Albert Hofmann died of a heart attack this morning at his home in Basel, Switzerland. Hofmann inadvertently discovered the effects of LSD while researching the substance in 1943. He subsequently self-administered the drug deliberately and produced the first accounts of its powerful psychedelic effects.
If you think 102 is old, just imagine how long he might have lived if he never did drugs!
Update: The above line is sarcasm. Before posting it, I asked a couple smart people if they thought anyone might misunderstand and we decided it probably wouldn't be a problem. Well, it was, and a few commenters have come away with the incorrect impression that I think Dr. Hofmann would be better off if he never used drugs. This comment explains what I really meant. I won't stop cracking jokes in the blog, but I do apologize for this one.
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redditWhat viewpoint is that?
Comment posted by smorgan on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 8:08pmI clearly over-estimated the ability of folks to recognize sarcasm, which is a lesson I've learned before in similar situations. I guess I should have known better and I'm sorry if anyone thought I was actually suggesting that LSD shortened his life.
For future reference, we are StoptheDrugWar.org. We oppose the war on drugs. We admire Albert Hofmann and the incredible life he lived. If something on this site sounds hostile to drug users, reread it. Maybe I'm kidding. Maybe it's a typo. But you'll never find me saying what you thought I said and meaning it.
Tribute to Dr. Albert Hofmann
Comment posted by Giordano on Wed, 04/30/2008 - 11:25pmIt was April 16, 1943, at 4:20 PM Swiss time, when the world changed forever. If time were reckoned from that date, this would be the year 65 LSD, instead of 2008 CE.
Sixty-five years of an exponential expansion of the human mind and spirit, sparked by a random event in a chemical laboratory observed by a brilliant chemist who also just happened to have the inclinations and talents of a sage and philosopher. What are the chances? There has been no single event in history that has done so much to push the human species forward and outward from its puny earth-restricted self into the great unknown.
Of course, there are those who fear and demonize the unknown. I’m sure Dr. Hofmann would just say “screw ‘em.”
Thanks from all of us, Doc.
Giordano
Self Responsibility
Comment posted by curdog on Sat, 05/24/2008 - 1:29amI know a person who attends a very respectable school with an immense workload who has fought off a cocaine addiction and one to painkillers who continues to smoke, "smoke" and occasionally drops acid. His GPA is above 3.0. He is able to separate drugs and their effects from his life. I am a Computer Engineering major who could not separate the two for too long and now am threatened by loss of work study and grants. Since I have met him I have consequently enjoyed the pleasures of life more and raised my own GPA at least .4 points (significant amount). You can still function while enjoying yourself. We have both written papers ( and I have done numerous technical work) successfully. As long as you get your shit done, you can enjoy yourself. My last semester contained more use of drugs and alchohol than any other semester and my GPA is higher. Sounds like you need some self discipline or a mentor.
Playing with Cid, smoking with good company and support from good friends who are always there when you need it pulled me out of a trench. I do not blame drugs for my short comings, just the lack of discipline and negative influence of others.
I do congratulate you on your achievement. I certainly wish I could ride my bike that far.
It's a joke
Comment posted by smorgan on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 5:13pmLSD is Hofmann's legacy. To suggest that he'd be better off having never done it is clearly absurd. Or so I thought...