In 1967, journalist Robert Gannon spent a weekend taking LSD in a psychiatric hospital in Pennsylvania. Under close observation, he spent the next 24 hours performing acts ranging from pirouettes and rolling in the grass to biting his own hands and reflecting on the depravity of his generation.
«I'm absolutely insane. I realize this because I see a reality that flies past me like a tiny strip of sunlight. I am in a giant vortex, swirling and swirling, and reality is just a narrow slit in the side» — describes Gannon's experience.
We have attempted to describe a psychedelic experience that inadvertently emphasizes the appeal of illicit substances. One cannot read such statements without realizing the extent to which drugs are integrated into modern society. The problem of drug addiction has been around for a long time, and organized drug traffickers continue to find ever more sophisticated ways to smuggle increasingly complex drugs.
At the turn of the century, cocaine, heroin and opium dominated the drug scene. Smugglers concealed drugs in the hem of their jackets or injected heroin into fruits such as oranges, which they then sold to prisoners serving time for selling drugs.
«I'm absolutely insane. I realize this because I see a reality that flies past me like a tiny strip of sunlight. I am in a giant vortex, swirling and swirling, and reality is just a narrow slit in the side» — describes Gannon's experience.
We have attempted to describe a psychedelic experience that inadvertently emphasizes the appeal of illicit substances. One cannot read such statements without realizing the extent to which drugs are integrated into modern society. The problem of drug addiction has been around for a long time, and organized drug traffickers continue to find ever more sophisticated ways to smuggle increasingly complex drugs.
At the turn of the century, cocaine, heroin and opium dominated the drug scene. Smugglers concealed drugs in the hem of their jackets or injected heroin into fruits such as oranges, which they then sold to prisoners serving time for selling drugs.
The drug situation worsened after Prohibition was enacted. Studies showed how people inhaled drugs and the physical effects it caused, including «saddle nose», today known as «cocaine nose».
For decades, researchers have tried to create non-toxic drugs to treat drug addiction. The University of Virginia worked to create a «dope-free drug» while scientists looked for ways to extract cannabis without psychoactive components.
Sixty years later, scientists are still looking for ways to improve the technology. Some of the early experiments may not have succeeded, but many other drug interventions have been successful. Check out our gallery to learn about the rise in popularity of marijuana in the 1960s, drug-related corruption among diplomats, and drug cartel exposes.
In 1918, the Secretary of the Treasury initiated a special committee to study the national drug situation. Their report indicated that drug smuggling was costing the United States $61 million dollars a year, while the number of minors facing drug addiction continued to rise.
For decades, researchers have tried to create non-toxic drugs to treat drug addiction. The University of Virginia worked to create a «dope-free drug» while scientists looked for ways to extract cannabis without psychoactive components.
Sixty years later, scientists are still looking for ways to improve the technology. Some of the early experiments may not have succeeded, but many other drug interventions have been successful. Check out our gallery to learn about the rise in popularity of marijuana in the 1960s, drug-related corruption among diplomats, and drug cartel exposes.
In 1918, the Secretary of the Treasury initiated a special committee to study the national drug situation. Their report indicated that drug smuggling was costing the United States $61 million dollars a year, while the number of minors facing drug addiction continued to rise.
The problem affects a wide range of people, from housewives to actresses to businessmen, but inmates used particularly devious methods to ensure their access to drugs. Visitors could hand them a «drug sandwich» or even two dollar bills with cocaine hidden between them. If someone didn't have two dollars, such a person could disguise some powder between the torn corners of a postcard.
Even more smugglers hid cocaine in the hem of their coats, injected heroin into fruit, or baked opiates into soap. Much about the drug trade has remained the same over the past hundred years.
America's drug problem has worsened dramatically over the decade. In 1930, one in six people suffered from addiction. Dr. William I. Sirovich, a New York City drug expert, explained that the introduction of Prohibition in 1920 only served to encourage addicts to replace hard drugs with alcohol.
In terms of restoring morality, the law had the opposite effect. In addition, the drug trade proved to be much easier than smuggling alcohol. People could easily carry cocaine in their pockets. Although drug addiction affected different social classes, society associated drug use exclusively with criminals and the homeless. Because of the existing taboo, ordinary people were embarrassed to seek help.
Even more smugglers hid cocaine in the hem of their coats, injected heroin into fruit, or baked opiates into soap. Much about the drug trade has remained the same over the past hundred years.
America's drug problem has worsened dramatically over the decade. In 1930, one in six people suffered from addiction. Dr. William I. Sirovich, a New York City drug expert, explained that the introduction of Prohibition in 1920 only served to encourage addicts to replace hard drugs with alcohol.
In terms of restoring morality, the law had the opposite effect. In addition, the drug trade proved to be much easier than smuggling alcohol. People could easily carry cocaine in their pockets. Although drug addiction affected different social classes, society associated drug use exclusively with criminals and the homeless. Because of the existing taboo, ordinary people were embarrassed to seek help.
Sirovich suggested to President Hoover that an international convention be held to harmonize anti-drug measures, since most of the drug factories were located overseas, and even to establish a «League of Nations on Drugs».
In their search for a solution to the problem of drug addiction, chemists from the University of Virginia investigated the possibility of creating a non-addictive drug capable of mimicking the effects of opium, morphine, heroin and cocaine, but without harming the body. We called this theoretical synthetic drug a «drug-free drug», analogous to the nicotine patch.
Researchers have worked diligently on methods for producing safe drugs: first purifying opium to isolate its harmful elements, then studying the drug molecules to understand what makes them so. To create a safe drug, scientists assumed they would need to find a harmless chemical that would not cause irreparable damage to cells.
Until the mid-1930s, opium was considered the primary addictive drug. Marijuana was perceived as a «Mexican border problem» and a substance no one cared about. Authorities only realized the extent of the nationwide problem when they began finding plantations in Pennsylvania, New York, California, and Ohio, as well as small backyard plots in San Francisco and New Jersey.
Unlike other drugs, cannabis proved easy to grow, buy, and process. It was difficult to prosecute marijuana traffickers, as many states only banned its importation, and smoking and growing it was easy.
Harold «Flash» Murray, a former U.S. narcotics agent, expressed disdain for organized drug cartels, stating, «They are rat creatures, cunning and ruthless». The pay is never great, he said, but there is immense satisfaction in outsmarting these enemies of society.
In first-person accounts reminiscent of crime novels and detective noughties, Murray shared his stories of confronting «orpedoes», thugs hired by drug dealers, and how he became a pro at «the tricks of the underworld».
For example, residents of an apartment building came up with a maneuver called «hanging laundry», allowing the gang to use clotheslines to smuggle drugs. Gang members would hang socks by the windows so that in the event of a raid, they could drop drugs in them and force the neighboring gang to remove them from sight.
In order to catch the offenders, Murray used various tricks, such as pretending to be disabled with crutches, because the drug dealers were unlikely to suspect anything amiss. Once at the door, he removed his disguise, signaled to his colleagues and «burst into the drug den like a terrier into a mink».
Harold «Flash» Murray, a former U.S. narcotics agent, expressed disdain for organized drug cartels, stating, «They are rat creatures, cunning and ruthless». The pay is never great, he said, but there is immense satisfaction in outsmarting these enemies of society.
In first-person accounts reminiscent of crime novels and detective noughties, Murray shared his stories of confronting «orpedoes», thugs hired by drug dealers, and how he became a pro at «the tricks of the underworld».
For example, residents of an apartment building came up with a maneuver called «hanging laundry», allowing the gang to use clotheslines to smuggle drugs. Gang members would hang socks by the windows so that in the event of a raid, they could drop drugs in them and force the neighboring gang to remove them from sight.
In order to catch the offenders, Murray used various tricks, such as pretending to be disabled with crutches, because the drug dealers were unlikely to suspect anything amiss. Once at the door, he removed his disguise, signaled to his colleagues and «burst into the drug den like a terrier into a mink».
World War II presented the Department of Agriculture with a difficult task: the military had an urgent need for twine and rope. Previously, fiber for these purposes had been supplied from the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies, but because of the armed conflict, these supplies were cut off. As a result, the authorities were forced to turn to hemp fiber, which was readily available for cultivation in American fields. The situation was complicated by the fact that such hemp farms could contribute to the growth of the drug trade by producing significant amounts of marijuana.
Experts suggested developing a variety of hemp with minimal levels of psychoactive substances. The scientific tests, which presented difficulties when tested on humans, were conducted by Dr. H. E. Warm of New York State, testing his drugs on fish.
To create «drug-free cannabis» he needed to find out the exact content of psychoactive components in cannabis. He processed the extracted substance into a powder and created four different solutions with varying concentrations, testing them on a pair of killifish. Dr. Warm also experimented on different crossbred cannabis varieties, hoping to develop a safe product.
Experts suggested developing a variety of hemp with minimal levels of psychoactive substances. The scientific tests, which presented difficulties when tested on humans, were conducted by Dr. H. E. Warm of New York State, testing his drugs on fish.
To create «drug-free cannabis» he needed to find out the exact content of psychoactive components in cannabis. He processed the extracted substance into a powder and created four different solutions with varying concentrations, testing them on a pair of killifish. Dr. Warm also experimented on different crossbred cannabis varieties, hoping to develop a safe product.
The stereotype of addicts who are portrayed as celebrities or gang members does not reflect reality. Psychiatrists point out that these can be ordinary people suffering from psychological problems. While many condemn drug addicts, it's important to remember that their addiction often causes serious suffering and excruciating withdrawal symptoms.
In the 1960s, the underground drug trade took off in a big way, facilitated by a corrupt alliance between smugglers and dishonest officials. Harry L. Giordano, commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Narcotics, uncovered facts about high-profile drug couriers. For example, he examined the cases of Mauricio Rosal, Guatemala's ambassador to Belgium, who often carried excessively heavy luggage when arriving in the United States. Giordano enlisted secret agents to follow Rosal and his partner.
In the months following the publication of the LSD article, reporter Robert Gannon subjected himself to an experiment at the Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute. He ingested LSD under controlled conditions to carefully document its effects. The experience consisted of four stages, each of which left him with vivid memories, from sensations and emotional turbulence to poignant philosophical reflections on the values of society.
Although LSD was highly controversial, marijuana remained the more common and available substance. The emerging popularity of marijuana raised concerns about its possible addiction, association with crime, and psychiatric effects.
Even with legal restrictions, the process of growing marijuana is as simple as sowing seeds in a garden. Although most marijuana comes from Mexico, some experienced growers manage to cultivate it on U.S. soil. One such case resulted in the arrest of an 18-year-old youth who was found in possession of nearly $100,000 worth of marijuana on a Virginia farm.
Unlike many drugs, marijuana is less addictive and does not lead to withdrawal. In addition, experts back in the 1950s supported the view that marijuana itself was not a gateway drug for harder substances. It took nearly 70 years for the world to accept this fact. The illegal nature of the marijuana trade, supported by the same criminal networks as hard drugs, only exacerbates the situation.