MAPS: Special Digest: Re: Questions on "LSD on paper"

[smiile@xxxxxxxx]

Replies To Holger Wagner From Edmond Kelly, Neal Fisher, and Bob Greer

------------------
From: Edmond Kelly <edkelly@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: MAPS: Questions on "LSD on paper"

It is my understanding that a piece of blotter paper is only capable on
holding 200 micrograms of any drug substance. I do recognize that such a
claim would assume a standard size square of blotter paper so one may wish
to add a margin of error of 20 to 40 micrograms. I know of no psychoactive
drug other than LSD that is active orally at doses that low. That means that
if the tab does anything at all, it absolutely has to be LSD. Furthermore,
the FBI reports that from its analysis of seized blotter paper LSD, they
believe that all blotter paper LSD is either totally the real thing or
nothing at all. Basically, this means that blotter paper LSD is the single
safest "street drug" in the sense that you always know what it is. 

I have known people who claim that their blotter paper LSD was still good
after they pulled it out of storage after more than a year which leads me to
believe that if it is stored properly, it can last much longer than Albert
Hofmann estimated. It must be protected from oxidation by the paper to some
extent. The reports of continued potency after over a year involved storage
in aluminum foil in a freezer. Perhaps the cold and lack of air contributed.

Just my 2 cents.
------------------------------
From: Fisherneal@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: MAPS: Questions on "LSD on paper"

In a message dated 1/13/99 5:32:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Holger.Wagner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

> 
>  a) I understand that LSD is a very potential hallucinogen, and *assume*
>  that this is a reason why it is possible to distribute it on paper
>  instead of tablets. Are there other drugs which could be distributed
>  that way, or: does that make sure that on paper-LSD, there can be no
>  other drugs in effective doses? I know that there have been reports of
>  speed and even strychnine being sold as LSD - but I assume that those
>  were sold as tablets. Are there any reports available on what doses or
>  drugs are sold as "LSD on paper" (like it exists for Ecstasy)?

A chemist friend of mine told me that strychnine is used on paper as a bonding
agent for LSD. Otherwise, so he says, the drug will not properly adhere. Does
anybody else know anything about this? If this is in fact accurate, it means
that liquid or "sugar-cube" is a whole lot safer.

N
------------------------------
From: "Bob Greer" <greers_maps@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: MAPS: Questions on "LSD on paper"

The reputation of LSD as a potent hallucinogen is overrated.

Yes, it's a very potent psychedelic drug.
=20
It is, however, weakly hallucinogenic: visual "distortions" and visual =
"graphitti" are common effects of LSD, but well developed hallucinations =
are rare.=20

"Hallucination" has two meanings: a spurious image (or sound, smell, =
etc.) that seems palpably real and independently existant; and a stongly =
held conviction or misinterpretation of experience.

The occasional cartoon-like images and light-shows seen with LSD are =
very short lived.  Rarely do LSD users believe that these are anything =
but amusing (or revealing) "special effects."   In this sense, LSD is a =
mild hallucinogen even at large doses, for most people and most of the =
time.  The common visual distortions are not severe enough to be =
considered hallucinations in this sense.

LSD does render people very suggestible, and a sadistic or controlling =
person nearby can induce hallucinations of the second sort in a LSD user =
with well-chosen, deliberately misleading comments.  And this is why LSD =
is a dangerous drug in open, public settings.  (LSD apparently renders =
the neural "weights" in the user's brain more plastic.  This greatly =
facilitates rapid learning of certain kinds, in particular the knowledge =
called "body knowledge" that includes language aquisition, gymnastic =
coordination, and many habits of social interaction.  A cruel person can =
use this quality to damage these essential skills in a defenseless, =
suggestible LSD user.)

LSD is a psychedelic drug, however, and this means that it actually =
weakens erroneous beliefs about oneself and life.  In a supportive or =
neutral setting, without abusive input by other people, it is an =
anti-hallucinogenic drug.  It temporarily reduces the user's belief in =
the hallucinations that comprise "normal consciousness" and profound =
insights result from this.  These insights can be retained if they are =
continually reaffirmed as the drug gradually wears off: the neural =
"weights" in the user's brain will relax, as a whole, to integrate them =
into the neural network there.  This process is rapid at first, and =
requires up to two weeks to complete.)
=20
Hallucinations in the first sense are easily detected with medical =
devices such as the electroencephalograph  (EEG) machine.  A =
synchronization of the different frequencies of brain waves indicates =
the occurance of a hallucination.  (Apparently the synchronized, and =
nearly simultaneous, firing of adjacent neurons produces "objects" in =
subjective experience; and large-scale group activations of neurons =
likewise correspond to large-scale hallucinations in people and =
animals.)  Tests with EEGs show that LSD is a weak hallucinogen.  =
Mescaline, ketamine and DOM are, likewise, shown to be strongly =
hallucinogenic via EEG tests.

Mix some sugar and food dye in a little water, and drop a little onto a =
piece of thick, absorbant paper.  I expect that you may be surprised by =
how much sugar that paper can hold without losing it's flexibility.  =
Certainly LSD is not the only psychedelic or hallucinogen that can be =
stored in pieces of paper.  (Paper is, after all, sponge-like when =
examined closely.)  Other drugs, like methamphetamine, are certainly =
strong enough to be distributed that way too.  A drug called "bliss" is =
reportedly sold on blotter paper in England; and the effects of this may =
be very like MDMA - according to posts on alt.drugs. uk.=20
=20
Absorbtion of LSD into a thick piece of a solid, absorbant paper will =
protect it very well if the paper is then kept dry and cool.  Sealing =
the paper in a small plastic "coin bag" and then storing that in a =
small, opaque, airtight, plastic container that is partly filled with =
well-dried "silica gel" will protect the LSD well for years at 65 =
degrees Farenheit.  Refrigerating the container, or burying it in cool =
soil, will extend the protection for many more years.  (The best paper =
is thick and absorbant, and is finished - smoothed - on one side to =
reduce absorbtion of air from that direction.  And of course the paper =
should be "acid free." <smile>

I suppose an anal-retentive might also replace the air in the container =
with helium or nitrogen before sealing it and then gluing the seal shut =
(on the outside) with epoxy or superglue.  Cool temperatures would =
guarantee that the "blotter" would stay potent for a lifetime or longer. =
 But really, what's the point of that?

LSD is very sensitive to light as well as to oxidation.  LSD in a =
methanol solution will turn aquamarine-blue as light exposure decomposes =
it.  LSD (as a crystal or in methanol solution) will gradually turn =
greyish brown as it decomposes.  Isopropyl alcohol is a better solvent =
for LSD than methanol, by the way, because it is less acidic than =
methanol; so the LSD lasts longer in isopropanol.  In a pinch, a bottle =
of vodka will store LSD very well in a refrigerator (or underground).

Dr. Shulgin describes the "weak" spots of LSD in his new book "TIHKAL" =
(Tryptamines I Have Known and Loved).  As I recall, he says there that =
it will store (without decomposition) in refrigerated water.  I'm unsure =
though if he specified "saline solution" and, if so, it's interesting =
that a pint bottle of sterile saline solution (containing a mild, =
non-mercury based disinfectant) can often be bought for a dollar or so.  =
(Contact lens wearers use this "generic" saline solution to save money =
since the chemical-filled name-brands are quite expensive.)

Everything I mentioned here refers to salts of LSD; I have no =
information about LSD free-base.  And freezing a water solution of LSD =
salt will destroy it completely, as will (according to Dr. Shulgin's =
books) the chlorine gas dissolved in drinking water drawn directly from =
a home faucet.  Allowing the water to sit, uncovered, for a few hours or =
overnight will allow this chlorine to evaporate from the water, of =
course.

- Bob Greer

----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Holger Wagner=20
  To: maps-forum@xxxxxxxx=20
  Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 1999 1:45 AM
  Subject: MAPS: Questions on "LSD on paper"


  Dear forum,

  I have a few questions about LSD as it is sold on the black market.
  Obviously, a major problem is that there is no way of finding out =
which
  dose comes on one "portion". However, I've been wondering about a few
  more things:

  a) I understand that LSD is a very potential hallucinogen, and =
*assume*
  that this is a reason why it is possible to distribute it on paper
  instead of tablets. Are there other drugs which could be distributed
  that way, or: does that make sure that on paper-LSD, there can be no
  other drugs in effective doses? I know that there have been reports of
  speed and even strychnine being sold as LSD - but I assume that those
  were sold as tablets. Are there any reports available on what doses or
  drugs are sold as "LSD on paper" (like it exists for Ecstasy)?

  b) In "LSD - my problem child", Albert Hofmann says that LSD is easily
  oxidated and thus would hardly "survive" more than a few weeks or =
months
  (p. 78f, German version). However, some people claim they used
  "paper-LSD" that has been months old and that it was still effective. =
If
  that is true - does it mean that there must have been some other drug
  involved which is not as vulnerable to oxygene as LSD, could that be =
the
  result of a placebo effect or is it possible that LSD lasts much =
longer
  than expected under certain circumstances?

  Any information will be greatly appreciated.

  Holger
  --=20
  o-----------------------------------------------------------------o
  | "Whatever the Thinker thinks, the Prover proves."      (Wilson) |
  o---------------------------------------------O-------------------o
  | http://www.woanders.de/~sunshine           /       AIM: Holtsch |
  | mailto:Holger.Wagner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      /      ICQ#: 15672193 |
  o------------------------------------------O----------------------o
  PGP-Fingerprint: E1C9 B5B6 90EF AAD2 0004  C644 A648 249B 0E5A 7863




------------------
MAPS-Forum@xxxxxxxx, a member service of the Multidisciplinary Association
for Psychedelic Studies (to become a member, see www.maps.org/memsub.html).
To [un]subscribe, email the message text,
[un]subscribe maps-forum youraddress to majordomo@xxxxxxxx