John Horgan has a very interesting article in Slate.
Tripping De-Light Fantastic
Are psychedelic drugs good for you?By John Horgan Posted Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at 8:44 AM PT
A year ago, hoping to dispel the postpartum gloom that had gripped me after I finished writing a book, I hiked into a forest near my home and pitched a tent under some pine trees. I spent that day and evening listening to the forest, scribbling in my journal, and thinking—all while under the influence of a psychedelic drug. The next morning I returned to my wife and children feeling better than I had in months.
What I did that day should not be illegal. Adults seeking solace or insight ought to be allowed to consume psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline. U.S. laws now classify them as Schedule 1 drugs, banned for all purposes because of their health risks. But recent studies have shown that psychedelics—which more than 20 million Americans have ingested—can be harmless and even beneficial when taken under appropriate circumstances.
Personally, I think people should be able to make choices about things like this on their own. But I also think it requires people to be better informed than most are. There's also at least one famous person, who was known to use LSD.
