RIP Dr Albert Hofmann, 102

[Antonio Peri]

A sad day for all of us. You gave such a beautiful present to the world. Your "problem chlid" still has a big future. You won´t ever be forgotten.

Rest in peace you great old man.

[LLCoOoLJ]

R.I.P - May you be happy to go back to where you came from before you were born. 1906-2008

Reputation Comments on this post:

I'd love to have you clarify your statement.

[grandbaby]

*removes hat & places over heart*

*weeps silently*

[N0ly]

SWIM owes this man his sanity and current living situation. If it was not for LSD SWIM would never had wanted to do anything with his life and would probably be serving pizzas to over sized bureaucrats and not think twice about it.

[OiledMandible]

RIP Dr. Hoffman! Your insights and discoveries have enriched millions of lives, and your memory will live on in millions more. Rest well Dr. Hoffman!

[dodi]

The energy is free

[RaverHippie]

Well done Sir. Your impact will be greater than anyone can ever hope for and we will do our best to see that the potential of your problem child is realized.

[curious1]

R.I.P Hoffman

You were an inspiration to me

[Samadhi]

Swim will celebrate in his honor and take his problem child to the beach!

Rest in peace and he will likely never be forgotten.

[enquirewithin]

Sad news, but he lived a long and fruitful life.

[phillylocal]

Albert Hofmann, father of drug LSD, dies in Switzerland

GENEVA: Albert Hofmann, the father of the mind-altering drug LSD whose medical discovery inspired — and arguably corrupted — millions in the 1960s hippie generation, has died. He was 102.

Hofmann died Tuesday at his home in Burg im Leimental, said Doris Stuker, a municipal clerk in the village near Basel where Hofmann moved following his retirement in 1971.

For decades after LSD was banned in the late 1960s, Hofmann defended his invention.

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

The Swiss chemist discovered lysergic acid diethylamide-25 in 1938 while studying the medicinal uses of a fungus found on wheat and other grains at the Sandoz pharmaceuticals firm in Basel.

He became the first human guinea pig of the drug when a tiny amount of the substance seeped onto his finger during a laboratory experiment on April 16, 1943.

"I had to leave work for home because I was suddenly hit by a sudden feeling of unease and mild dizziness," he subsequently wrote in a memo to company bosses.

"Everything I saw was distorted as in a warped mirror," he said, describing his bicycle ride home. "I had the impression I was rooted to the spot. But my assistant told me we were actually going very fast."

Upon reaching home, Hofmann began experiencing what he called "wonderful visions."

Three days later, Hofmann experimented with a larger dose. The result was the world's first scientifically documented bad trip.

"The substance which I wanted to experiment with took over me. I was filled with an overwhelming fear that I would go crazy. I was transported to a different world, a different time," Hofmann wrote.

Hofmann and his scientific colleagues hoped that LSD would make an important contribution to psychiatric research. The drug exaggerated inner problems and conflicts and thus it was hoped that it might be used to recognize and treat mental illnesses like schizophrenia.

For a time, Sandoz sold LSD 25 under the name Delysid, encouraging doctors to try it themselves. It was one of the strongest drugs in medicine — with just one gram enough to drug an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people for 12 hours.

LSD was elevated to international fame in the late 1950s and 1960s thanks to Harvard professor Timothy Leary who embraced the drug under the slogan "turn on, tune in, drop out."

But away from the psychedelic trips, horror stories emerged about people going on murder sprees or jumping out of windows while hallucinating. Heavy users suffered permanent psychological damage.

The U.S. government banned LSD in 1966 and other countries followed suit.

Hofmann maintained this was unfair, arguing that the drug was not addictive. He repeatedly argued for the ban to be lifted to allow LSD to be used in medical research.

Last December, Swiss authorities decided to allow LSD for psychotherapy in exceptional cases.

"For me, this is a very big wish come true. I always wanted to see LSD get its proper place in medicine," he told Swiss TV at the time.

Hofmann himself took the drug — purportedly on an occasional basis and out of scientific interest — for several decades.

"LSD can help open your eyes," he once said. "But there are other ways — meditation, dance, music, fasting."

Even so, the self described "father" of LSD readily agreed that the drug was dangerous if in the wrong hands. This was reflected by the title of his 1979 book: "LSD - my problem child."

In it he wrote that, "The history of LSD to date amply demonstrates the catastrophic consequences that can ensue when its profound effect is misjudged and the substance is mistaken for a pleasure drug."

Hofmann retired from Sandoz in 1971 and devoted his time to travel, writing and lectures.

"This is really a high point in my advanced age," Hofmann said at a ceremony in Basel honoring him on his 100th birthday. "You could say it is a consciousness-raising experience without LSD."

Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.

International Herald Tribune:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/...it-Hofmann.php

[ramjet]

Let's not post things like this too hasty. All news we have ATM is one internet post that claims this. None of the websites related to Albert Hoffman have any news. Nor do any of the news portals

Sadly, the reports appear to have been confirmed:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7374846.stm

Albert Hofmann, the Swiss chemist who discovered the hallucinogenic drug LSD, has died of a heart attack at his home in Basel at the age of 102.

Mr Hofmann first produced LSD in 1938 while researching the medicinal uses of a crop fungus.

He accidentally ingested some of the drug and said later: "Everything I saw was distorted as in a warped mirror".

He hoped LSD could be used to treat mental illness, but it became a popular street drug in the 1960s.

'Turn on, tune in, drop out'

While working with the drug in the Sandoz pharmaceutical laboratory a few years after first producing it, Mr Hofmann ingested some of the drug through his fingertips.

He went home and experienced what he described as visions of "fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colours".

The drug was popularised by Harvard professor Timothy Leary who suggested that people "turn on, tune in, drop out".

Rock stars and the counter-culture of the 1960s picked up LSD as a wonder drug but horror stories began to emerge of users suffering permanent psychological damage.

LSD was made illegal in many countries beginning in the late 1960s.

[thorazine]

" The mystical chemist Albert Hofmann passed away at his home at 9am on Tuesday Apr 29, 2008 of a heart attack at the age of 102. He will be missed. [Yes, this is confirmed. It isn't a rumor -- earth]
Check out the Albert Hofmann vaults on erowid.org
Respect,
Omananda"


Rest in PEACE Albert! Love for you!

thorazine added 7 Minutes and 46 Seconds later...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Albert Hofmann, father of the mind-altering drug LSD whose medical discovery grew into a notorious "problem child," died Tuesday. He was 102.

Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann, in 1998, long maintained that LSD had many medical uses.

Hofmann died of a heart attack at his home in Basel, Switzerland, according to Rick Doblin, president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, in a statement posted on the association's Web site.

Hofmann's hallucinogen inspired -- and arguably corrupted -- millions in the 1960's hippie generation. For decades after LSD was banned in the late 1960s, Hofmann defended his invention.

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

The Swiss chemist discovered lysergic acid diethylamide-25 in 1938 while studying the medicinal uses of a fungus found on wheat and other grains at the Sandoz pharmaceuticals firm in Basel.

He became the first human guinea pig of the drug when a tiny amount of the substance seeped onto his finger during a repeat of the laboratory experiment April 16, 1943.

"I had to leave work for home because I was suddenly hit by a sudden feeling of unease and mild dizziness," he wrote in a memo to company bosses.

"Everything I saw was distorted as in a warped mirror," he said, describing his bicycle ride home. "I had the impression I was rooted to the spot. But my assistant told me we were actually going very fast."

Three days later, Hofmann experimented with a larger dose. The result was a horror trip.

"The substance which I wanted to experiment with took over me. I was filled with an overwhelming fear that I would go crazy. I was transported to a different world, a different time," Hofmann wrote.

There was no answer at Hofmann's home Tuesday, and a person who answered the phone at Novartis, a former employer, said the company had no knowledge of his death.

Hofmann and his scientific colleagues hoped that LSD would make an important contribution to psychiatric research. The drug exaggerated inner problems and conflicts, and thus it was hoped that it might be used to recognize and treat mental illness like schizophrenia.
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For a time, Sandoz sold LSD 25 under the name Delysid, encouraging doctors to try it themselves. It was one of the strongest drugs in medicine, with just one gram enough to drug an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people for 12 hours.

Hofmann discovered that the drug had a similar chemical structure to psychedelic mushrooms and herbs used in religious ceremonies by Mexican Indians.

LSD was elevated to international fame in the late 1950s and 1960s, thanks to Harvard professor Timothy Leary, who embraced the drug under the slogan "turn on, tune in, drop out." Actor Cary Grant and numerous rock musicians extolled its virtues in achieving true self discovery and enlightenment.

But away from the psychedelic trips and flower children, horror stories emerged about people going on murder sprees or jumping out of windows while hallucinating. Heavy users suffered permanent psychological damage.

The U.S. government banned LSD in 1966, and other countries followed suit.

Hofmann maintained that this was unfair, arguing that the drug was not addictive. He repeatedly said the ban should be lifted to allow LSD to be used in medical research.

He himself took the drug -- purportedly on an occasional basis and out of scientific interest -- for several decades.

"LSD can help open your eyes," he once said. "But there are other ways: meditation, dance, music, fasting."

Even so, the self-described "father" of LSD readily agreed that the drug was dangerous if in the wrong hands. This was reflected by the title of his 1979 book: "LSD: My Problem Child."

Hofmann retired from Sandoz in 1971. He devoted his time to travel, writing and lectures, which often reflected his growing interest with philosophy and religious questions.

He lived in a small village in the Swiss Jura mountains and remained active until his early 90's.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/29/hof....ap/index.html

[Eldorhan]

OMFG, i went here to post the exact same thing

RIP big man.

[rupert]

Every now and then famous people that I don't know (personally) die, and I wish I could have know more about and of them. I like what I read about his opinion on death: “In death, I go back to where I came from, to where I was before I was born, that’s all.”

Maybe I can meet him when I too go back there!

[babylashes]

Have just read about his passing in the guardian (don't usually get the guardian, but interesting report on cannabis in it today!) the article on Albert Hoffman was really good and informative, he sounded like a good bloke. Just tried to order his book, LSD - My Problem child the cheapest one could find £143!!

[silenius]

Originally Posted by babylashes

Just tried to order his book, LSD - My Problem child the cheapest one could find £143!!

Full text online: http://www.erowid.org/library/books_...problem_child/

Reputation Comments on this post:

Thank you, I've been looking for this!

[babylashes]

Originally Posted by silenius

Full text online: http://www.erowid.org/library/books_...problem_child/

Thank you that is helpful and very good of you to do that.

[AntiAimer]

R.I.P Albert

[robertone]

Sad to hear, lets remember him well!

[Nature Boy]

"I think that in human evolution it has never been as necessary to have this substance LSD. It is just a tool to turn us into what we are supposed to be."

Well said Doctor. Rest in peace.

[beentheredonethatagain]

Originally Posted by Panthers007

"If you think 102 is old, just imagine how long he might have lived if he never did drugs!" - from the brief article/notice linked above^^^.

Well that sucks. But what a life he had! Rather than mourn his passing, I propose a celebration of his life and contributions. When the famous architect Walter Gropius passed away, he stipulated that all his friends throw a big party. They did. And it turned into an orgy. It was from this that we get the term "a Grope-Fest." I suggest something similar for this event.

Okay ladies we now have permission! >O ;p >

Originally Posted by chinpokomaster

God dammit. Still, a testament to how safe LSD in the longterm is if ever there was one.

RIP

Originally Posted by dodi

The energy is free

givin the amount of energy felt from LSD, and him being the king of the lab , he surely had to have quite a force.

Originally Posted by phillylocal

Last December, Swiss authorities decided to allow LSD for psychotherapy in exceptional cases.

"For me, this is a very big wish come true. I always wanted to see LSD get its proper place in medicine," he told Swiss TV at the time.

Hofmann himself took the drug — purportedly on an occasional basis and out of scientific interest — for several decades.

"LSD can help open your eyes," he once said. "But there are other ways — meditation, dance, music, fasting."
]

I wonder what this gentleman's state of mind was like during the last thirty years.
after all those expeirments, something had to have been affected.

I totaly agree that LSD can help open your eyes as well as fasting, music, meditation, dancing. As Doctor Hofmann stated.

Originally Posted by Nature Boy

"I think that in human evolution it has never been as necessary to have this substance LSD. It is just a tool to turn us into what we are supposed to be."

Well said Doctor. Rest in peace.

to tell us what were supposed to be? a drug to tell us who or what we're 'posed to be?

He lost me on that one.

[PingoTango]

Originally Posted by beentheredonethatagain

to tell us what were supposed to be? a drug to tell us who or what we're 'posed to be?

He lost me on that one.

SWIM wants to say that LSD has most definitely turned him into an emotionally, psychologically and spiritually more mature person, has made his personality and sense of individuality feel more intact and secure, and he is certain that he would have made drastically different life decisions had he never had his mind awakened by this incredible chemical, that, with retrospect, would have led to a much less fulfilling life than the one he leads now.

In short, he definitely feels more complete as a human being, and knows who he truly is. Maybe it was this increased sense of purpose and self-worth that Dr Hofmann was referring to.

Say hi to Gerry for us, Doctor!

[podge]

Originally Posted by beentheredonethatagain

to tell us what were supposed to be? a drug to tell us who or what we're 'posed to be?

He lost me on that one.

"Its a tool to turn us into who are supposed to be".....meaning it can remove one's ego temporarily allowing them to see the world and themselves without any of the usual preconceptions we have developed since birth, to see things as they really are. Like he said , Human evolution has been leading this way and the same realizations can be achieved without drugs. Therefore its just a tool, not the key.

[FrankenChrist]

I think we can all take consolation in the fact that he lived a very long and interesting life in an interesting era. I can't even imagine what it must be like to live that long.