Albert Hofman Dead at 102

Dr Albert Hofman died yesterday aged 102. It will be a long time before what he did is evaluated in mass culture in a level and calm way. The discovery of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on November 16, 1938 was initially ignored. Its psychedelic properties were unknown until 5 years later, when Hofmann, acting on what he has called a "peculiar presentiment," returned to work on the chemical. While re-synthesizing LSD-25 for further study on April 16, 1943, Hofmann became dizzy and was forced to stop work. In his journal, Hofmann wrote that after becoming dizzy he proceeded home and was affected by a "remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness". Hofmann stated that as he lay in his bed he sank into a not unpleasant "intoxicated like condition" which was characterized by an extremely stimulated imagination. He stated that he was in a dreamlike state, and with his eyes closed he could see uninterrupted streams of "fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors." The condition lasted about two hours after which it faded away. Hofmann had attributed the psychoactive effects he experienced to accidentally absorbing a tiny amount of LSD-25 into his skin.

Hoffman later said:

"I produced the substance as a medicine. ... It's not my fault if people abused it,"

Hofman's most famous text, LSD: MY Problem Child is online.