Remnant of Paradise Continued by ~@~

[Note: This page is an addendum.]

I am aware there is an inaccurate negative psychological profile regarding people who have taken LSD.

In my opinion, this was done because THEY would prefer one not know 'the truth' and in order to understand why, one should know something about Project MKULTRA.

The Deputy Director of the CIA revealed that over thirty universities and institutions were involved in an 'extensive testing and experimentation' program which included covert drug tests on unwitting citizens 'at all social levels, high and low, native Americans and foreign.' Several of these tests involved the administration of LSD to 'unwitting subjects in social situations.' At least one death, that of Dr. Olson, resulted from these activities. The Agency itself acknowledged that these tests made little scientific sense. The agents doing the monitoring were not qualified scientific observers. - Senator Ted Kennedy, 1977

These studies weren't conducted merely to satisfy the CIA's scientific curiosity -- the Agency was looking for weapons that would give the United States the upper hand in the mind wars. Toward that objective, the Agency poured millions of dollars into studies probing literally dozens of methods of influencing and controlling the mind. One 1955 MKULTRA document gives an indication of the size and range of the effort; this document refers to the study of an assortment of mind-altering substances which would:

* "promote illogical thinking and impulsiveness to the point where the recipient would be discredited in public"
* "increase the efficiency of mentation and perception"
* "prevent or counteract the intoxicating effect of alcohol"
* "promote the intoxicating effect of alcohol"
* "produce the signs and symptoms of recognized diseases in a reversible way so that they may be used for malingering, etc."
* "render the indication of hypnosis easier or otherwise enhance its usefulness"
* "enhance the ability of individuals to withstand privation, torture and coercion during interrogation and so-called 'brainwashing'"
* "produce amnesia for events preceding and during their use"
* "produce shock and confusion over extended periods of time and capable of surreptitious use"
* "produce physical disablement such as paralysis of the legs, acute anemia, etc."
* "produce 'pure' euphoria with no subsequent let-down"
* "alter personality structure in such a way that the tendency of the recipient to become dependent upon another person is enhanced"
* "cause mental confusion of such a type that the individual under its influence will find it difficult to maintain a fabrication under questioning"
* "lower the ambition and general working efficiency of men when administered in undetectable amounts"
* "promote weakness or distortion of the eyesight or hearing faculties, preferably without permanent effects"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_MKULTRA

Closed doors of perception

Psychologist used LSD; refused entry to USA after he was Googled, responds

'Why is America fascinated with prescription drugs, such as Prozac, and terrified of LSD?' Andrew Feldmár took LSD (when it was still legal) in the early 60s. In 2006 he was entering the USA when a customs official Googled his name & found an article he wrote that suggested 'moral turpitude' (ie. drug use) and he was deported. This is his response. Digg:

http://digg.com/political_opinion/...

Summer of Love: I was accused of "moral turpitude" for publishing an article in a respected journal about the uses of LSD in psychotherapy.

by Andrew Feldmár
August 8, 2007 10:00 AM

I was 26, just switched from mathematics into psychology. RD Laing's quasi-mystical book, The Politics of Experience and the Bird of Paradise was hot off the press. I didn't yet know that I would seek him out and acquire him as therapist, teacher, supervisor, mentor and friend. I was reading Watts, Ginsberg, Kerouac, Burroughs, I was looking for therapy, I was looking for love. A decade before, I had escaped from my family and country, Hungary, to be free, and now there I was, being insatiably curious, in Canada.

I had heard of LSD-25. I knew that Duncan Blewett at Saskatchewan's Weyburn Hospital had studied it with Humphry Osmond and Abram Hoffer, and concluded: "Psychedelic drugs are to psychology what the microscope is to biology or the telescope is to astronomy." Osmond introduced Aldous Huxley to psychedelic drugs, and the latter wrote in The Doors of Perception: "The man who comes back through the Door in the Wall will never be quite the same as the man who went out. He will be wiser but less sure, happier but less self-satisfied, humbler in acknowledging his ignorance yet better equipped to understand the relationship of words to things, of systematic reasoning to the unfathomable mystery which it tries, forever vainly, to comprehend."

The title came from Blake: "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern."

I had a chance to take a large dose of this numinous, mysterious sacrament in the company of an experienced friend, and I didn't hesitate. Laing's words I knew by heart: "If I could turn you on, if I could drive you out of your wretched mind, if I could tell you I would let you know." The next 12 hours allowed a journey that was more revelatory than 12 years of therapy.

Later, I worked with Ross MacLean at Hollywood Hospital on the west coast treating alcoholic patients. Using LSD, he claimed a success rate of 80 per cent. In 1966 the US banned LSD. By 1975, the hospital had to close.

Last summer, trying to cross the US border, I was detained, Googled, and then questioned about an article I published in 2001, in Janus Head, a scholarly journal, entitled Entheogens and psychotherapy. I had written of my very first trip: "I experienced myself to be a magical, complex, mythical creature. The experience was spiritual because I realised I was a part of something greater than what I could imagine." The guard took my writing as evidence of my having ingested illegal substances and declared me inadmissible. I am 66, I am a senior psychotherapist, respected internationally, both my children live in the US, and now I've been caught in a "crime involving moral turpitude."

Why is America fascinated with prescription drugs, such as Prozac, and terrified of LSD? The original LSD, manufactured by Sandoz Laboratories, was marketed to psychiatrists to "elicit release of repressed material". Soon the use and study of LSD, and everything we had learned about it, was repressed. Why? Perhaps, because once you wake up, you cannot be controlled, you cannot be hoodwinked, you cannot be manipulated, governed. Depression may be the result of oppression and lack of expression; unhappiness may be a result of powerlessness. LSD makes this obvious. Prozac distracts one from politics and ethics and social action and lulls one into considering oneself sick.

Why the arbitrary, unfair, punitive action of Homeland Security 40 years after my passing through the "Door in the Wall"? Millions took acid then. Why pick on me? Because I wrote about it? Laing called the terror of other people's psyches and of one's own "psychophobia". Homeland Security is America's immune system. What am I, a deadly virus? "Language," Burroughs growled, "is a virus from outer space."

For other articles in the Summer of Love series click here.

Source: http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/andrew_feldmr/...

Wikipedia also had a 'developing section' titled, "List of notable people who have taken psychedelic drugs" which I can no longer find; however, I kept a copy, but, unfortunately, did not save the references. Here is the partial list:

Actors & Comedians

* Dave Attell, comedian, in his standup routine "Skanks For The Memories".
* Bill Bailey, comedian, in his standup show, Part Troll.
* Lewis Black, comedian, has said in his comedic routines, that "just in case it's not obvious to you people, I've done some LSD in my life. And I did it because I thought at the time that it allowed me to think every thought that was possible."
* Jim Breuer, comedian, in his stage act, talks about trying mescaline once as a teenager, in a bit called "The Wizard".
* Dave Chappelle, comedian, sometimes discusses his experiences with mushrooms in his stand-up routines.
* David Carradine discusses his uses of LSD in his autobiography Endless Highway along with descriptions of his use of peyote and psychedelic mushrooms, as well as discussing his use of non-hallucinogenic drugs such as cannabis and cocaine.
* Cary Grant, in the September, 1959 Look Magazine, relates how LSD treatment has brought him inner peace. He used LSD more than sixty times under therapeutic auspices. [1]
* Larry Hagman, in his autobiography, Hello Darlin'
* Anne Heche, in her book Call Me Crazy
* Mitch Hedberg, comedian, in his comedy act, states that "My favorite drug is acid because it expanded my mind. Because of acid, I now know that butter is better than margarine. I saw through the bullshit."
* Bill Hicks, comedian, in his comedy albums Dangerous and Relentless, among others
* Margot Kidder, actress in the documentary Easy Riders, Raging Bulls
* William H. Macy, in the July 2001 issue of Maxim
* Groucho Marx, comedian, recounted in an article with Paul Krassner "I Dropped Acid with Groucho"
* Ralphie May, comedian, in his standup routine.
* Richard Pryor, comedian, refers to it in his comedy act and memoirs.
* Joe Rogan, speaks about his experience with DMT on a radio talk show.
* Doug Stanhope, comedian, in his standup routine.
* Steven Wright, comedian, in his standup routine.

Artists

* R. Crumb, American Underground Cartoonist. In the movie Crumb, he cites his use of LSD as being the catalyst for transforming his work into something more than the sum of his influences. This was when his career really took off, with Zap #1, accompanied by a strange stylistic change, which Crumb attributes to the drug.
* Alex Grey, in an interview with the Online Noetic Network and in numerous other interviews and personal writings
* Leo Kenney [2]
* Henri Michaux, poet, writer and painter [3]

Authors

* Susan Blackmore, British writer [4]
* Stewart Brand, in John Markoff's book, What the Dormouse Said. The idea of promoting the image of the whole earth from space came during an LSD trip [5].
* William Burroughs, article in Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
* Carlos Castaneda, author of The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge
* Franz Corvus, in the book Generation of Zombies[6]
* Adelle Davis [7]
* Philip K. Dick, in the book Valis
* Jack Defessus, in the book Generation of Zombies[8]
* Bruce Eisner, Journalist in Tripping: An Anthology of True-Life Psychedelic Adventures by Charles Hayes, Penguin Group USA, 2000 ISBN-10: 0140195742.ISBN-13: 9780140195743
* Allen Ginsberg[citation needed]
* Sam Harris, an American author with an interest in neuroscience, reason, and religion. [9]
* Aldous Huxley, author of The Doors of Perception
* Ken Kesey, author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest[citation needed]
* Grant Morrison, author of the comic book series The Invisibles. [10]
* Neal Cassady part of original "beat" movement, writer and driver of the merry pranksters bus.[citation needed]
* Ernst Jünger, modern German author [11]
* Anais Nin, in The Diary Of Anais Nin, Volume 5 (1947-1955)
* Robert M. Pirsig in his book Lila: An Inquiry into Morals
* Andrew Sullivan conservative journalist and political commentator, in an online debate found here [12]
* Dr. Huston Smith, interviewed in Nov/Dec 1997, MotherJones
* Robert Stone, affiliated with Ken Kesey, author of "Dog Soldiers" and "A Flag for Sunrise"
* Tom Robbins, throughout his writing, interviewed in 6/02 [13]
* Hunter S. Thompson, throughout his writings, most notably in his novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
* Mark Vonnegut, in The Eden Express, Bantam Books, 1975 ISBN 0-553-02755-7
* Alan Watts, a philosopher, writer, speaker, and expert in comparative religion. The Joyous Cosmology - Adventures in the Chemistry of Consciousness (1962)
* Robert Anton Wilson, in his autobiographical Cosmic Trigger series.

Businessmen

* Bill Gates, interview in the December 1994 Playboy:[14]
* Sir Richard Branson,Virgin Group in his Autobiography Losing My Virginity
* Steve Jobs of Apple Inc describes taking LSD as "one of the two or three most important things he has done in his life" in John Markoff's 2005 book, What the Dormouse Said; also in an interview in Time Magazine
* Henry Luce Founder of Time/Life [15]
* R. Gordon Wasson Banker who introduced Mexican psychedelic mushrooms into the modern world.

Environmentalists

* John Robbins, Founder of EarthSave, interviewed in Mavericks of the Mind

Musicians

* Trey Anastasio of Phish describes several instances in "The Phish Book."
* Syd Barrett founding member of the rock band Pink Floyd.[citation needed]
* Denny Doherty of the Mamas and the Papas (John Phillips' autobiography, Papa John)
* Micky Dolenz, singer/drummer for the Monkees, in his autobiography I'm A Believer
* Cass Elliot of the Mamas and the Papas (John Phillips' autobiography, Papa John)
* Jerry Garcia, lead guitarist for the Grateful Dead, in the foreword "On the Wheel with Neal" to On The Bus, pp. xvii-xviii
* George Harrison, in his book I, Me, Mine and in the television/home video production The Beatles Anthology
* Jimi Hendrix, excerpt from Room Full of Mirrors in Jimi's First Experience
* Robert Hunter "6th" member of the Grateful Dead said to have ingested 2500 doses of LSD. He was quoted as saying "I died a thousand deaths."
* Anthony Kiedis from the band Red Hot Chili Peppers in his autobiography Scar Tissue
* Lemmy, quoted in a June 2005 article on contactmusic.com (UK) [16]
* Phil Lesh, bassist for the Grateful Dead, in his autobiography Searching For The Sound.
* John Lennon, in interviews collected in The Beatles Anthology
* Katharine McPhee, in Vogue magazine she described an Ayahuasca retreat in Peru as the most important event in her life.
* Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, from The Mars Volta who make use of psychoactive drugs like LSD for their works.
* Shane MacGowan, singer for The Pogues, interviewed in "A Drink With Shane MacGowan"
* Willie Nelson, musician, recently arrested for possession of Marijuana and Psilocybin mushrooms
* Matisyahu, Hasidic Jewish reggae singer, in the 11 May 2006 The Guardian
* Dave Matthews, in the VH1 Storytellers documentary
* Marilyn Manson, in "The Long Hard Road Out of Hell"
* Paul McCartney, in interviews collected within The Beatles Anthology
* Jim Morrison, much of the Doors work was inspired by his experiences with hallucinogens.
* Jason Mraz, interviewed in High Times December 2005
* Mike Oldfield, interviewed in The Daily Mail, August 31, 1998
* John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas (John Phillips' autobiography, Papa John)
* Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas (John Phillips' autobiography, Papa John)
* Keith Richards, interviewed in Rolling Stone, October 17, 2002
* Carlos Santana, reported by Blender and also in an interview
* Grace Slick, singer for Jefferson Airplane, in her autobiography Somebody To Love?
* Ringo Starr, in interviews collected within The Beatles Anthology
* Joe Strummer front-man for punk rock band The Clash, and The Mescaleros
* Hank Williams III, in the song "Crazed Country Rebel", interviewed in Creative Loafing
* Brian Wilson, in many interviews, and masters for the SMiLE sessions

Sportspeople

* Dock Ellis, in Dock Ellis in the Country of Baseball (co-written with Donald Hall), describes pitching a no-hitter while on LSD
* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, in his 1984 autobiography Giant Steps
* Phil Jackson, in his 1975 book on coaching, Maverick

Philosophers

* Alex Hixon, in his interview with Playboy

Scientists

* Dr. Richard Alpert (now Ram Dass), in his book, Be Here Now
* Duncan B. Blewett, Canadian psychologist and psychedelic researcher.[citation needed]
* Francis Crick, co-discoverer of the DNA double helix, alleged to have used small doses of LSD in the early 1950s [17]
* Dr. Douglas Engelbart, in John Markoff's 2005 book, What the Dormouse Said
* Richard Feynman, notable physicist claimed (in James Gleick's biography Genius) to have experimented with LSD during professorship at Caltech
* Dr. Stanislav Grof, Czech researcher
* Dr. Abram Hoffer, physician and psychedelic researcher
* Albert Hofmann, the first person to "trip" on LSD after discovering it in 1943, in LSD: My Problem Child
* Michael Hollingshead. Introduced Tim Leary to LSD
* Dr. Timothy Leary in many writings, such as The Psychedelic Experience
* Dr. John C. Lilly in his book Centre of the Cyclone and other works
* Dr. Ralph Metzner
* Dr. Kary Mullis, Nobel-Prize winner and inventor of PCR, in his essay collection Dancing Naked in the Mind Field [18]
* Dr. Humphry Osmond
* Dr. Alexander Shulgin

Others

* Christopher Mayhew, Labour MP and BBC television personality, who took Mescaline Hydrochloride in 1955 for an unbroadcast episode of Panorama [19]
* Mark McCloud, the "Father of LSD blotter acid art collecting"
* Owsley Stanley Famous LSD chemist of the 1960's
* William Griffith Wilson, Co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, in the Alcoholics Anonymous book, Pass It On,
* Ethel Kennedy, Wife of Robert F. Kennedy, underwent LSD therapy for alcoholism. [20]
* Jan Svankmajer, influential Czech stop-motion animator volunteered to a 1972 military experiment with LSD in Prague. His experience left him out of favour with the drug. [21]

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