Slashdot Mirror
'Godfather of Ecstasy,' Chemist Sasha Shulgin Dies Aged 88
EwanPalmer (2536690) writes "Alexander 'Sasha' Shulgin, the chemist, pharmacologist and author known for popularizing the drug MDMA as well as creating and synthesizing hundreds of psychoactive drugs, has died aged 88. Shulgin was known for discovering, creating and personally testing hundreds of psychoactive chemicals and documenting the results, along with his wife, in his books and papers. He is also known for introducing the positive aspects of MDMA to psychologists, which in term helped it become a popular recreational drug in the 1980s." With less irritation from auto-playing video sound, try the BBC.
As a former and still (sadly :() marijuana user i can tell you right now that if you are vulnerable to it drugs, any drug can cause you serious mental harm. I have suffered a psychoses episode just by smoking pot 1.5 year ago. Do note however I was seriously "down" at the time. Constant headaches, constant thinking about my problems really fucked me up. Worst 4 weeks of my life thus far. I literally trusted noone (not even my parents who in my psychoses state were holding me back from fully embracing the world order Illuminati!, yes I actually believed in it, I could write a book about how I viewed the world...) and I was a danger to myself.
I still sadly smoke it but I'm hoping to go clean in the next week or so. Thankfully I'm in a much better place right now so hopefully no more mental stuff.
Sadly the lure of the high still gets me. I listen to the Johnny Cash song "A Junkie's Prayer" a lot.