LSD was first created by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann in 1938 while he was working for the Sandoz Laboratories in Basel, Switzerland.

Who created LSD?

  • Albert Hofmann synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) on November 16, 1938, during research on lysergic acid derivatives from the ergot fungus.
  • His original goal was to develop a potential circulatory and respiratory stimulant, not a psychedelic drug.

How its effects were discovered

  • The powerful psychedelic effects of LSD were not recognized until 1943, when Hofmann accidentally absorbed a small amount and later deliberately ingested it to study its effects.
  • Even very small doses (around 25 micrograms) were found to cause intense visual and mental hallucinations, making LSD one of the most potent psychoactive substances known.

Quick historical context

  • After its discovery, Sandoz made LSD available in the 1940sā€“1950s for psychiatric and experimental use under medical supervision.
  • In the 1960s it became widely used recreationally, which led to growing concern, legal restrictions, and its classification as an illegal drug in many countries.

TL;DR: LSD was created by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann in 1938 at Sandoz Laboratories; its psychedelic effects were only discovered in 1943 after his accidental exposure and later self-experimentation.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.