Memo: LSD does not power personal flight

You're committing a logical fallacy here (probably best described as proof by example. "I do not do horribly silly things, and I am a young man, therefore young men don't do horribly silly things." The original poster never claimed that all young people behave irresponsibly, and offering a counter-example to an argument that wasn't made really does nothing.

Harm reduction is a grey area with few black-and-whites. One needs to look at risks, probabilities, general tendencies, etc. Take, for example, drunk driving. Drunk driving isn't safe because I drove drunk once and nothing happened; if you look at it statistically, there is a higher incidence of bad outcomes when people are drunk than then they're sober. Our thinking on drunk driving needs to reflect that fact.

"Furthermore, you assume that "we all know" about these "young guys who wig out"... I can assure you, the majority of guys who take it, at least by my personal knowledge, are perfectly fine and in control."

OK. You're speaking of probabilities here, so we're getting closer. What kind of majority? 51%? 55%? 95%?

I don't think "young people wig out" and "all young people wig out" are the same statement.

"Sure, some teenagers will still do stupid things. They always will. Prohibition doesn't prevent that. It just prevents them from getting the knowledge they need to take psychedelics more wisely."

Funny thing. You characterize the original poster's argument as "ridiculous," but you do realize, don't you, that this was his argument? You've rephrased it, but this was precisely the point he was trying to make.

I think you've taken the original post too personally. It wasn't about you.

Sure, I've taken risks while under the influence of psychedelics or strong weed which I probably would have normally avoided. But whether or not I die because of my personal risks, in which I am harming no one, is for no one to rightfully prevent.

Furthermore, you assume that "we all know" about these "young guys who wig out"... I can assure you, the majority of guys who take it, at least by my personal knowledge, are perfectly fine and in control. The main category I have seen flip out the most on psychedelics is college-age girls... taking various substances, thinking they're going crazy, and becoming paranoid and essentially schizophrenic.

If acid were legal, the social structure necessary for a safe trip environment would quickly be established, with centers and trip getaway locations for safety and comfort. Sure, some teenagers will still do stupid things. They always will. Prohibition doesn't prevent that. It just prevents them from getting the knowledge they need to take psychedelics more wisely.

I would be highly suspect of any of the "facts" presented by the article. They've been trying to shut this place down for years. I doubt anybody slipped LSD into food that apparently only affected one person.

But if it were psychedelics involved, one would hope that if LSD were legalized, it could be separated from more obviously recreational drugs. And perhaps good information would be more available, too, including basic concepts of set and setting.

The bottom line is that kids will be kids, we have to accept that and then try to come up with harm reduction strategies that admit this. I think just about anyone who has thought about it agrees (as I'm sure you do) that the current prohibitionist stance is so not in line with this strategy that it isn't funny. I don't think society is poised to even begin "to talk!"