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D-lysergic
acid diethylamide (LSD) is the most potent hallucinogenic
substance known to man. Dosages of LSD are measured
in micrograms, or millionths of a gram. By comparison,
dosages of cocaine and heroin are measured in
milligrams, or thousandths of a gram. Compared
to other hallucinogenic substances, LSD is 100
times more potent than psilocybin and psilocin
and 4,000 times more potent than mescaline.
The dosage level that will produce an hallucinogenic
effect in humans generally is considered to be
25 micrograms. Over the past several years, the
potency of LSD obtained during drug law enforcement
operations has ranged between 20 and 80 micrograms
per dosage unit. The Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) recognizes 50 micrograms as the standard
dosage unit equivalency.
LSD is classified as a Schedule I drug in the
Controlled Substances Act of 1970. As a Schedule
I drug, LSD meets the following three criteria:
it is deemed to have a high potential for abuse;
it has no legitimate medical use in treatment;
and, there is a lack of accepted safety for its
use under medical supervision.
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