white → pink1 → pink2 → purple2
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LSD
d-Lysergic acid diethylamide
Lucy, Acid, Tabs, Blotter, Cid
LSD is a semisynthetic psychedelic of the lysergamide class, first synthesized by Albert Hofmann in 1938 from ergot alkaloids, with its psychoactive properties discovered in 1943citation needed. It is perhaps the most widely researched and culturally influential psychedelic substance, having played a central role in the 1960s counterculture movement. LSD is among the most potent psychoactive compounds known, producing effects at microgram doses1. It is considered non-addictive1 with extremely low toxicity relative to dose2.
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.
Threshold~10 µg
Light10-75 µg
Moderate75-150 µg
Strong150-250 µg
Heavy250+ µg
Tolerance builds almost immediately after ingestion, reducing by about half after 3 days and returning to baseline after roughly 7 days without further use.
Duration
Onset20-40 minutes
Come Up45-90 minutes
Peak3-5 hours
Offset3-5 hours
After Effects12-48 hours
Total8-12 hours
Half-life
3 hours
Subjective Effects
Legacy content. A statistically backed ontology from Mindstate Design Labs is coming soon.
Effects vary widely by individual, dose, and context.
Physical
Cognitive
In comparison to other psychedelics such as Psilocin, LSA and Ayahuasca, LSD is significantly more stimulating and fast paced in terms of the specific style of thought stream which it produces and contains a large number of potential effects.
Enhancement of current mind stateAcceleration of thoughtFeelings of fascination, importance and aweTime distortionIntrospectionDeja-VuMultiple thought streamsRemoval of cultural filterConceptual thinkingEgo suppression, loss and deathPersonality regressionThought loopsFeelings of interdependent oppositesDelusionsStates of unity and interconnectedness
Visual
Geometry
The visual geometry of LSD can be described as more similar in appearance to that of 2C-B and the 2C-x family than psilocin, LSA, or DMT. They can be comprehensively described as unstructured in organization, algorithmic and digital in geometric style, intricate in complexity, large in size, fast and smooth in motion, multicoloured in scheme, bright and flat in colour, and sharp in their edges with extremely angular corners. At higher dosages they consistently result in states of Level 7A visual geometry.
Hallucinatory States
LSD is capable of producing a full range of low and high level hallucinatory states in a fashion that is significantly less consistent and reproducible than that of many other commonly used psychedelics.
Auditory
See also: Psychedelic Intensity Scale, Effects of psychedelics (visual, cognitive, miscellaneous)
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
LSD primarily acts as a partial agonist at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptorcitation needed, which is understood to be the principal mechanism responsible for its psychedelic effects, though the precise nature of this relationship remains incompletely characterized. It displays high affinity at the 5-HT2A site relative to other psychedelics and is broadly non-selective across serotonin receptor subtypes, with agonist activity spanning the 5-HT1, 5-HT2, 5-HT5, 5-HT6, and 5-HT7 receptor families. LSD also acts as an agonist at all five dopamine receptor subtypes (D1 through D5) and has been found to bind to adrenoreceptor subtypes3.
Pharmacokinetics
LSD is rapidly absorbedcitation needed and undergoes hepatic metabolism via CYP450 isoenzymes. Its elimination half-life is approximately 3 hours4, and the primary metabolite produced is 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD42.
Dangerous
Highest riskThese combinations are considered extremely harmful and should always be avoided. Reactions to these drugs taken in combination are highly unpredictable and have a potential to cause death.
Unsafe
AvoidThere is considerable risk of physical harm when taking these combinations, they should be avoided where possible.
Caution
Use cautionThese combinations are not usually physically harmful, but may produce undesirable effects, such as physical discomfort or overstimulation. Extreme use may cause physical health issues. Synergistic effects may be unpredictable. Care should be taken when choosing to use this combination.
Tolerance
Tolerance timelines are rules of thumb, not exact schedules, and vary widely between individuals and use patterns.
Full Tolerance
Tolerance develops almost immediately after ingestion, forming in as little as three hours. Near-maximum tolerance levels are reached after 3-4 days of daily administration.
Baseline Reset
Under typical use patterns, tolerance fully reverses after about 5 days without additional use. Anecdotal accounts describe possible weeks- to months-long tolerance after exceptionally large doses, although this has not been well documented in clinical literature.
Half Tolerance
3-5 days of abstinence
Cross Tolerance
Serotonergic psychedelics, All psychedelics (via 5-HT2A receptor downregulation)
Harm Potential
Addiction & Dependence
Psychological
Extremely LowLSD is widely considered non-addictive and the desire to use it can actually decrease with continued use, making it largely self-regulating.citation needed Attempts to train laboratory animals to self-administer LSD have been largely unsuccessful. While a small number of individuals have reported developing a problematic relationship with LSD or taking it daily for extended periods, psychological dependence is rare.
Physical
Extremely LowLSD does not produce physical dependence.citation needed No withdrawal syndrome has been reported following discontinuation of use, even after repeated administration. A DSM-IV review noted that almost no hallucinogens produced dependence unlike other psychoactive drug classes.
Toxicity
Cardiovascular
A theoretical risk of cardiac fibrosis and valvulopathy from 5-HT2B receptor agonism has been proposed for long-term or chronic use, but preliminary animal studies found no heart structure changes or valvulopathy from chronic microdosing,citation needed and research is mixed on whether LSD is a potent 5-HT2B agonist at all.
Thermoregulation
Rare cases of dangerous hyperthermia have been reported in the medical literature, typically at higher doses; one documented non-fatal case involved body temperature exceeding 106°F (41°C).
General
Expert review indicates no evidence that LSD causes damage to any human organ at reasonable doses in careful contexts, with no negative cognitive, psychiatric, or toxic physical consequences documented from acute exposure.citation needed
Psychosis Risk
LSD can precipitate psychotic symptoms in individuals predisposed to psychosis or with pre-existing psychiatric conditions, though this appears to be quite rare.citation needed A Medline search in 2003 found only three case reports of LSD-induced psychosis in the previous 20 years. LSD does not appear to produce psychiatric illness de novo in otherwise emotionally healthy individuals. People whose relatives have schizophrenia or early-onset mental illness face heightened risk.
Seizure Risk
Seizures are very rare but can occur in individuals who are predisposed to them, particularly under physically taxing conditions such as dehydration, inadequate nutrition, overheating, or fatigue.
History & Culture
Discovery and Synthesis
LSD was first synthesized on November 16, 1938, by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann while working at Sandoz Laboratories in Basel, Switzerland.citation needed The compound emerged from a research program investigating potentially useful derivatives of ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other…
Trip Reports
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Legality
International
UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971 (Schedule I)
By Country
Illegal32
United StatesIllegalControlled under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.76 Possession was first made illegal on October 24, 1968.6 Manufacturing, purchasing, possession, processing, and distribution without a DEA license are prohibited. Classified as having high abuse potential with no accepted medical use.
AustraliaIllegalLysergide (LSD) is listed in Schedule 9 of the current Poisons Standard. Schedule 9 covers substances whose manufacture, possession, supply and use should be prohibited by law except for approved medical or scientific research, or analytical, teaching or training purposes. State and territory law implements this classification; in the Australian Capital Territory, possession of up to 0.001 g or 5 discrete dosage units remains an offence with a maximum penalty of 1 penalty unit.
BelgiumIllegalArrêté royal du 6 septembre 2017 réglementant les substances stupéfiantes et psychotropes15
Prohibited without government clearance. Possession, purchase, sale, and production are all illegal.
CroatiaIllegalPravilnik o popisu droga, psihotropnih tvari i biljaka iz kojih se može dobiti droga te tvari koje se mogu uporabiti za izradu droga20
Listed as a controlled substance under national drug legislation.
FinlandIllegalLSD is listed as a narcotic substance in Annex I to Government Decree 543/2008. Its manufacture, import, export, distribution, possession, and use are controlled under Finland's Narcotics Act. Finnish legislation does not use a separate legal hard-drug category for LSD.
GermanyIllegalLSD is listed in Anlage I to the Betäubungsmittelgesetz as a non-marketable narcotic drug. Unauthorised acquisition, possession, production, import, export, sale, transfer, and other trafficking conduct are offences under the Act. Authorised scientific or public-interest handling requires the statutory permission process.
GreeceIllegalLaw 4139/2013 on Addictive Substances28
LSD is listed in Table A of Law 4139/2013 on Addictive Substances. The law criminalises unauthorised production, possession, transport, import, export, sale, purchase, and distribution of substances in the statutory tables. Authorisations are governed by the law's controlled-use provisions.
IndiaIllegalNarcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 198529
The Schedule to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 lists (+)-N,N-diethyllysergamide, d-lysergic acid diethylamide. Section 8 prohibits production, manufacture, possession, sale, purchase, transport, storage, consumption, import, export, and transhipment of psychotropic substances except for medical or scientific purposes and as authorised by the Act and rules.
IndonesiaIllegal(+)-Lisergida, also called LSD and LSD-25, is listed in Appendix I of Law No. 35 of 2009 as a Group I narcotic. Group I narcotics may be used only for scientific and technological development and are not used in therapy; unauthorised possession, production, distribution, and use are criminal offences.
IrelandIllegalMisuse of Drugs Act 1977 (Controlled Drugs) (Designation) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 211/2022)32
LSD is covered as lysergide in Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 (Controlled Drugs) (Designation) Order 2022. The Order makes manufacture, production, sale, supply, distribution, and possession unlawful except for authorised research and other specified purposes, and also covers other N-alkyl derivatives of lysergamide.
ItalyIllegalLSD is entered in Table I of the Consolidated Act on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Unauthorised production, manufacture, sale, transfer, transport, import, export, acquisition, and possession are offences under Article 73; conduct exclusively for personal use is subject to the administrative measures in Article 75. The statutory quantity tables are one factor in determining personal use and do not create an automatic criminal threshold.
LatviaIllegalMinistru kabineta noteikumi Nr. 3537
Listed as a Schedule I controlled substance under Latvian drug legislation.
NetherlandsIllegalOpiumwet41
Controlled under List I of the Opium Law. Possession, distribution, and production are illegal without a license. Notably, personal use itself is not criminalized.
New ZealandIllegalMisuse of Drugs Act 197542
Classified as a Class A controlled substance, the most restrictive category under New Zealand drug law.
NorwayIllegalForskrift om narkotika m.v. (narkotikalisten)43
Classified as a narcotic substance. Purchase and possession without a special license are illegal.
PolandIllegalRozporządzenie Ministra Zdrowia w sprawie wykazu substancji psychotropowych, środków odurzających oraz nowych substancji psychoaktywnych44
Listed under 'Wykaz środków odurzających i substancji psychotropowych' (List of narcotic substances and psychotropic substances) in category I-P. Ownership, production, and sale are prohibited.
RussiaIllegalПостановление Правительства Российской Федерации от 30 июня 1998 г. № 68148
Controlled under List I of Russian drug legislation. Possession, production, and sale are illegal. Research may be conducted under special license.
SingaporeIllegalMisuse of Drugs Act 197349
Lysergide is a Class A controlled drug in the First Schedule to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973. The Act criminalises trafficking, manufacture, import or export, possession, and consumption of controlled drugs, and its lysergide entry also covers compounds structurally derived from lysergamide.
SpainIllegalReal Decreto 2829/1977, de 6 de octubre50
(+)-Lisergida (LSD, LSD-25) is listed in List I of Annex I to Royal Decree 2829/1977. The Decree prohibits use, manufacture, import, export, transit, trade, distribution, possession, and inclusion in preparations of List I substances, while permitting scientific use only with authorisation.
SwitzerlandIllegalVerordnung des EDI vom 30. Mai 2011 über die Verzeichnisse der Betäubungsmittel, psychotropen Stoffe, Vorläuferstoffe und Hilfschemikalien (Betäubungsmittelverzeichnisverordnung, BetmVV-EDI)5354555657
In the consolidated version in force from 13 March 2026, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25; Lysergid) is expressly listed in Verzeichnis d, the list of prohibited controlled substances. The Narcotics Act prohibits its cultivation, import, manufacture and placing on the market; unauthorised possession, acquisition and sale are offences, and unauthorised consumption is punishable by a fine. The Federal Office of Public Health may issue exceptional authorisations for scientific research, drug development, or limited medical use where statutory conditions are met.
ThailandIllegalLSD is expressly listed as a Category I narcotic in the Ministry of Public Health Notification Re: Specifying Names of Narcotics in Category 1, B.E. 2565 (2022). The notification takes effect after 30 days from its Gazette publication on 25 October 2022. Under section 90 of the Narcotics Code, producing, importing, exporting, distributing, or possessing a Category I narcotic is prohibited unless permitted under sections 34 or 35(3).
TurkeyIllegalLaw No. 2326 approves Turkey’s accession to the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, whose Schedule I lists (+)-lysergide as LSD and LSD-25. For Schedule I substances, the Convention requires parties to prohibit all use except scientific and very limited medical use under government control, and to require special licensing or prior authorisation for manufacture, trade, distribution, and possession.
UkraineIllegalCabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 770, On Approval of the List of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors6364
LSD is listed as (±)-lysergide (LSD, LSD-25) in List No. 2, Table I of Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 770 of 6 May 2000. Table I contains particularly dangerous psychotropic substances whose circulation in Ukraine is prohibited.
United Arab EmiratesIllegalFederal Decree by Law No. (30) of 2021 lists LSD, LSD-25 and (+)-lysergide in Schedule 5 and prohibits its import, export, transfer, production, manufacture, bringing into the UAE, possession, acquisition and related acts. The Decree by Law has applied since 2 January 2022; controlled medical use and scientific research are limited to designated specialized scientific authorities under Cabinet-set conditions.
United KingdomIllegalLegal / decriminalized3
Czech RepublicDecriminalized (small amounts)Since 2010, possession of up to 5 tabs has been decriminalized.21 Individuals possessing less than this threshold may be charged with a misdemeanor or receive a police warning rather than criminal prosecution.citation needed
MexicoDecriminalizedLey General de Salud40
The Ley General de Salud directs the public prosecutor not to bring a criminal action against a consumer or dependent person who possesses LSD in an amount equal to or below 0.015 mg for strict and immediate personal consumption, subject to the statute's location restriction. The statute classifies that amount as the maximum immediate personal-use dose. Conduct outside those conditions remains subject to the drug-control offences.
PortugalDecriminalizedDecriminalized for personal use since July 2001 under Law 30/2000.47 Possession of less than 500 µg is not a criminal offense, though the substance may be confiscated and individuals referred to a dissuasion commission or fined. Production and sale remain criminal offenses.
References
Source Pages
Citations
- Nichols DE. (2018). Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD). ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 9(10), 2331-2343. https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.8b0004312
- Passie T, Halpern JH, Stichtenoth DO, Emrich HM, & Hintzen A. (2008). The pharmacology of lysergic acid diethylamide: a review. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, 14(4), 295-314. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-5949.2008.00059.x1234
- Rickli A, Moning OD, Hoener MC, & Liechti ME. (2016). Receptor interaction profiles of novel psychoactive tryptamines compared with classic hallucinogens. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 26, 1327-1337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.05.0011
- Dolder PC, Schmid Y, Haschke M, Rentsch KM, & Liechti ME. (2015). Pharmacokinetics and Concentration-Effect Relationship of Oral LSD in Humans. The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyv072123
- MK-Ultra. HISTORY (n.d.). https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-mk-ultra1
- Statement by the President Upon Signing Bill Relating to Traffic in or Possession of Drugs Such as LSD. The American Presidency Project (October 24, 1968). https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-the-president-upon-signing-bill-relating-traffic-or-possession-drugs-such-lsd12
- Matthias E. Liechti, Peter Gasser, Helena D. Aicher, Felix Mueller, Tadeusz Hawrot, & Yasmin Schmid. (January 2025). Implementing psychedelic-assisted therapy: History and characteristics of the Swiss limited medical use program. Neuroscience Applied, 4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nsa.2025.1055251
- Isaacson W. (2011). Steve Jobs. Simon & Schuster.1
- Primary legal source. legislation.gov.au (n.d.). https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L00633/latest/text1
- Primary legal source. tga.gov.au (n.d.). https://www.tga.gov.au/products/regulations-all-products/legislation-and-legislative-instruments/poisons-standard-susmp1
Further Reading
Article Status
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Recent changes8 human edits · latest
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3 September 2026
Lyrea · Changed a word in Dosage & Duration › Routes 1 › Dose ranges › Heavy
Lyrea · Changed a word in Dosage & Duration › Routes 1 › Dose ranges › Strong
Lyrea · Changed a word in Dosage & Duration › Routes 1 › Dose ranges › Moderate
Lyrea · Changed a word in Dosage & Duration › Routes 1 › Dose ranges › Light
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