LSD should be legalized for recreational use.

LSD refers to Lysergic acid diethylamide, a psychedelic drug illegal in the United States of America. If you challenge me, you are in support of keeping LSD illegal, and/or increasing penalties for possessing or selling it.

LSD should be legalized for the reasons listed below.

A) LSD use is a victimless crime. If someone ingests LSD, no one is being victimized in any way, shape, or form.

B) LSD is less addictive than many legal drugs in America. (1) (2)

C) Only one person has ever died of LSD overdose. However, this man died of because of his own ignorance. He was under the impression that the LSD was speed, ergo, he ingested 320 G of LSD, which is much higher than the recommended dosage. However, more than one person has died of alcohol poisoning. (3)

D) LSD has medical uses, where as alcohol and tobacco, do not. If nothing else, this should make LSD a class B drug instead of a class A one. (4)

(1) http://farm4.static.flickr.com...

(2) http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:kWTSkNKaCgYJ:www.antiproibizionisti.it/public/docs/thelancet_20070323.pdf+development+of+a+rational+scale+to+assess+the+harm+of+drugs+of+potential+misuse.&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

(3) http://www.erowid.org...

(4) http://www.mindhacks.com...

I would first like to point out that my opponent failed to cite his definition. I will accept that LSD does in fact stand for lysergic acid diethylamide which is indeed an illegal hallucinogen in the United States. I will also provide a subsequent definition: a semi synthetic illicit organic compound C20H25N3O derived from ergot that induces extreme sensory distortions, altered perceptions of reality, and intense emotional states, that may also produce delusions or paranoia, and that may sometimes cause panic reactions in response to the effects experienced —called also lysergic acid diethylamide [1].

I will first present my arguments and then assess my opponent's. I negate the resolution, LSD should be legalized.

LSD should not be legalized due to its nature as a semi synthetic compound. Though LSD is derived from ergot, which is a natural fungus which plagues certain grains and grasses, its goes through a process known as semi – synthesis; the process of semi synthesis is used for several reasons. These include, cost, expedience and complexity. If, for example it would cost too much money to structurally recreate something through full synthesis, semi synthesis would be used. Semi synthesis is also used as a means of expedience – which somewhat intertwines with what I stated above with money, if it would be faster to semi synthesize something due to its organic make –up, it would be done, for the sake of expediency. Unfortunately, when we are manufacturing something that is ingested, and in turn can affect a person's internal system quality and safety should not be sacrificed for expediency and money. In addition to this, it has been noted that semi synthetic compounds can, and generally do outperform the original molecule. [2]

Second, LSD impairs judgment. By way of its sensory distortions, and altered states of reality, LSD users are seriously impaired and can make poor choices that can control not only their well – being, but the well – being of others. Despite the fact that many mechanisms of how these hallucinogenic drugs work are not clearly understood, it is believed that they work by impairing neurotransmitter reception as well as binding the receptor sites [3]. Due to the fact that it creates sensory distortions users generally do not make good decisions and therefore put the lives of others at risk. This being said, when an LSD user is "tripping" and is not in a controlled environment such as his/her home he poses a risk to other citizens, this is unsafe and irresponsible. LSD needs to remain illegal so that we don't have citizens getting into their cars under the influence of a strong hallucinogenic.

Third, and finally, LSD is a date rape drug. Though my opponent state that no one is victimized if someone ingests LSD I must illustrate that he is incorrect. Many people take LSD and put it into drinks in order to intoxicate the person and ultimately manipulate their impaired judgment and rape them, and for that reason, we cannot take the chance with allowing LSD to be legalized. LSD can also have an effect on short – term memory receptors. Therefore, once a person has been date – raped under the effects of LSD they may or may not remember them which could ultimately lead to the difficult decision of whether or not they will have/ or will want to abort the child.
I will now asses my opponent's points.

A: "LSD use is a victimless crime. If someone ingests LSD, no one is being victimized in any way, shape, or form."

I would first like to point out that my opponent provided no fact to back this claim. As I illustrated, it is possible for date rape to occur, as well as deaths from irresponsible driving etc.

B: "LSD is less addictive than many legal drugs in America"

Though my opponent is correct, LSD may be less addictive than tobacco or alcohol, it produces the tolerance effect. This means that LSD users who take the drug repeatedly will need to take progressively higher doses to ensure they receive the same high, and this, is ultimately dangerous [4]. It has been noted, that those who use copious amounts of LSD are prone to psychotic conflicts as well as recurrent hallucinations which can result in permanent desensitization to reality [5].

C: "Only one person has ever died of LSD overdose. However, this man died of because of his own ignorance. He was under the impression that the LSD was speed, ergo, he ingested 320 G of LSD, which is much higher than the recommended dosage. However, more than one person has died of alcohol poisoning. (3)"

Though my opponent is correct that users do not die from overdosing on LSD, LSD users do in fact die. They die from the hallucinogenic powers of the drug. Death can also be preempted due to the side effects of the drug such as: raised body temperature, chills, profuse perspiration etc. Death from LSD can however result from, panic reactions, hallucinations and the paranoia experienced while on LSD. [6]

D: "LSD has medical uses, where as alcohol and tobacco, do not. If nothing else, this should make LSD a class B drug instead of a class A one. (4)"

My opponent has proved one medical use for LSD – cluster headaches. In his own article, it states that the LSD works on cluster headaches due to the fact that it helps the shortage of Serotonin. However, these same results can be achieved by eating certain foods. For example, eating high carb food helps increase Serotonin levels, without the hallucinations or paranoia. [7]

Sources:
[1] - http://www.merriam-webster.com...
[2] - http://en.wikipedia.org...
[3] - http://www.nida.nih.gov...
[4] - http://www.narconon.ca...
[5] - http://www.addictionsearch.com... (Scroll to the bottom)
[6] - http://www.narconon.ca...
[7] - http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu...

Alright, round two.

I fail to see how LSD being a semi-synthetic compound makes it's legality questionable. You have given no examples to why semi-synthetic compounds are inferior or dangerous as compared to fully synthesized ones.

Yes, LSD distorts judgment. And yes, it can be dangerous However, more deaths have occurred from alcohol related incidents than LSD related incidents. Even though LSD may not be as readily available, the ratio of deaths to uses is far less. Not to mention, I can assure you, if you take LSD, driving is going to be the last thing on your mind.

Your third point is baseless conjecture. I challenge my opponent to find one case of LSD being used as a date rape drug.

While you may say that bread can cure cluster headaches, there is no research proving this. I challenge my opponent to find an alternate cure to cluster headaches, because there are certainly some people who would love to know what it is. And, further research shows that LSD can allow the color blind to see color.

http://www.erowid.org...

"Though my opponent is correct that users do not die from overdosing on LSD, LSD users do in fact die. They die from the hallucinogenic powers of the drug. Death can also be preempted due to the side effects of the drug such as: raised body temperature, chills, profuse perspiration etc. Death from LSD can however result from, panic reactions, hallucinations and the paranoia experienced while on LSD."

Find me a case where ANYONE has died from hypothermia, loss of bodily fluids, or seeing hallucinations while on LSD.

Finally, your other arguments illustrate the risks of LSD. However, I don't know if you can wrap your mind around the possibility that some people WANT to take risks. Who are you to prevent people from such an innocent joy? Yes, they may harm people if they use it incorrectly. But our legal drugs have killed so much more, not to mention, they are addictive and have no medical use. And if we tax LSD, ultimately, our government could make some money off of this.

And one more thing. LSD wasn't outlawed because it was dangerous. LSD was outlawed because Nixon hoped it would stop the anti-war riots over Vietnam.

I stated that semi – synthetic compounds outperform the original organism. The potency of LSD is higher due to its semi synthetic nature, in addition to its lack of stability and safety concerns. This is all due to the fact that it is semi synthetic – which is cited in the article.

Whether or not LSD is more or less dangerous than alcohol is rather obsolete as we are debating the reasons as to why or why not LSD should be legalized, Alcohol is a depressant, not a hallucinogen, sadly, many drinkers drink too much. Though I do concede that it is nearly impossible to overdose from LSD, there are an entire slew of other side effects. Despite the fact that driving may be the last thing on my mind, an LSD user's judgment, as you admitted is impaired. So, even though it may be the last thing on the users mind, they still may get behind the wheel of a car, or even step outside into the road and believe they have the power to stop traffic.

Aside from high starch foods, there are multiple other plans of treatment for cluster headaches and migraines. These include fast acting treatments such as anesthetics, triptans and other drugs. In addition, many sufferers also use Imitrex and other Prescription and OTC drugs to help treat the cluster headaches. There is no known cure, not even LSD is cited.[8] Upon reading my opponents article, the LSD only works to help the color blind see color while under the effect of the LSD. I find this a useless argument because of the fact that the user would have to take LSD for an extended period of time to see color. One could also interpret this as another aspect of a users "trip". This source also cites that this has only been seen in a "handful of cases".

When I stated that they die from the hallucinogenic powers of the drug I was speaking to the fact that when people take the drug they believe things that may not be true. People die from hypothermia and severe dehydration all the time, to believe that these instances would be different simply because they are on LSD is foolish and ignorant.

"Finally, your other arguments illustrate the risks of LSD. However, I don't know if you can wrap your mind around the possibility that some people WANT to take risks. Who are you to prevent people from such an innocent joy? Yes, they may harm people if they use it incorrectly. But our legal drugs have killed so much more, not to mention, they are addictive and have no medical use. And if we tax LSD, ultimately, our government could make some money off of this."

--> There are other ways to take risks, the adrenaline "highs" experienced by sky - divers and bungee jumpers are supposedly just as climactic as using these drugs. To be truthful, I couldn't tell you what an LSD or Acid trip is like, as I have never done it. But the fact of the matter is, it poses a threat to other people as well. You yourself admitted that it may harm people if it is used incorrectly. It doesn't have to be used incorrectly, when someone "trips" there is a serious deprivation to the receptors in their brain causing them to act irrationally.[9] (Since we're citing videos - I'd also like to note that the video doesn't work.) So despite the fact that yes, some people might want to take risks, not all people do, and not all people deserve to have their lives infringed upon if people who take LSD act in an irresponsible manner.

LSD as well as Ecstasy, PCP, GHB and Rophynol are all classified as "Date - Rape" drugs. - therefore, there must have been some reasoning for them to come about... which is noted in the source.

Sources:
[8] - http://www.mayoclinic.com...
[9] -

Bah, you won. You're an amazing debater, you deserve the win. I look forward to challenging you again in the future.

In conclusion, vote Con.

I wish my opponent wouldn't have conceded, I really enjoyed this debate. I'm not that amazing of an online debater, I'm much better at LD. I thank my opponent for this debate and hope that you vote Con. Thank - you.