Alexander Shulgin
[From PopTech] Alexander Shulgin, the chemist who invented ecstasy, carefully creates new molecules and then more carefully ingests them on the grounds that there’s no other way to see the effect on the mind. He said wants to raise the question of the mind rather than the brain. But he never quite got to it, at least not explicitly. Shulgin does not believe that computers will ever imitate the mind, although they’ll be good at imitating the brain. “The mind process is what I’m primarily interested in.”
He’s a charming presenter. Just when you think drugs have smoothed off the edges of his mind, he comes through with enough detailed chemistry to remind you that he is in fact a rigorous scientifist.
He gave a personal accounting of drugs he has known and loved, although he talked about them in their chemical names (“dimethoxyladida” is about as close as I can get) so it came out as a list without punctuation.
He railed against the “analog drug bill” that says that if a drug is “substantially similar” (vague enough for you?) to a schedule one drug (one with no medical use and a high potential for abuse), then it shall be treated as a schedule one drug.
He estimates that there are 200 known psychedelics. Given the growth rate, there will be maybe 2,000 in the next 10-15 years.
Now, he says, he’s ready to begin his talk. (The clock has run out.) When he first took mescaline he realized there were parts of himself he had not been in contact with. Then he took another drug with just a small chemical difference and found important differences; for example, the flower he’d meditated on when on peyote he now tore apart to see what’s inside. (He talks about drugs the way others talk about wines, I think on purpose.) A small brain effect can have a large mind effect.
He ended by describing a new molecule. “Here’s a compound that’s never been made. A whole new area of chemistry…I’ve not tasted it yet. I don’t know what the interesting properties are. … It doesn’t know me either.” So you have to do a careful introduction. “You start with a few micrograms. In case you make a mistake.” There’s an unlimited number of these. He finds this fascinating “and wants to do this for the rest of my life.”
Fascinating person. Needs more time, and maybe an interview format. (I heard him and his wife on Terry Gross’ss Fresh Air a few months ago, and she drove the interview masterfully.)
Soundbyte: “I found the 2,4,5 orientation superb.”
Categories: Uncategorized dw
I am a journalist from “Veja”, the most important magazine from Brazil and I want to know the e-mail of Dr. Alexander Shulgin to do an interview.
Thanks,
Roberta Salomone
I am not a journalist, I’m just a not so ordinary person, having done this and that.. but I feel something very sad..
I however, also would very much like to communicate with Dr. Alexander Shulgin.. :-/
Hi Shulgin,
I was the lad that wrote to you about the isoquinolines around 2 years before your released your latest book.. For isolating mutations in skin with nanoscience, great book but I want to get it of you personally in all the shamonics of the world ;-) Whats your bank details
We are attempting to come up with a protype for a done like supstance that can be easily weened after 6 months for meth. I have had a slightly different version of dipt at 12mg, that would provide the probable dopamine reponse, but being an indol we need 2 more, c0 by knocking off the alpha or beta of something that is common in your particular country like pihkal #43 an attaching with a maybe some simple plant based anti-psychotic so there is always the potential to add 25% real fruit juice in the final pill or syrup..
Anyway, if your keeping a sharepoint 2003 like spaces do some track backs .
http://spaces.msn.com/members/zesjczeques/
I would like to know if, various alkyl groups replacing the N(6) methyl group in LSD can make a more potent hallucinogen?
I´m also interested in to get in contact with Dr. Shulgin. According to an documentary we have seen on the franco-german tv-channel arte, we recognised, our way of living or the way we plan our life partly ressembles to Dr. Shulgin`s and his wife`s. I also was very surprised to really find out, that there are people out there thinking and being the same as me and my fiancée! We´ve got a couple of questions about reasonable drug experiences, not to be in rush but to widen our conscience…
And, if possible, do you know any platforms etc dealing with Aldous Huxley, Albert Hofmann, Timothy Leary, Hunter S. Thompson etc???
I would be glad to get an answer
Thanks
My a close friend wrote a letter to which we feel a huge importance of relaying to Dr.Shulgin and his wife. I have no commercial interests and no plans for pestering such a great individual. But if someone could please send me an email address or something of the nature it would be greatly appreciated. My email is [email protected]
I wanted to ask Sasha about the Mexico plant excursions but lost the email address or found it changed.