“No casual experiments”: Inside a legendary psychedelics lab

About this episode

This episode explores the legacy of Alexander Shulgin and his contributions to psychedelic research and culture.

In a small, bunker-like laboratory in the East Bay hills, Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin created some of the world’s most powerful psychedelic drugs. Astonishingly, he didn’t try to hide his activities. On the contrary, Sasha published instruction manuals on how to make his mind-expanding compounds, and his farm in Lafayette became a mecca for scientists, therapists, artists, and others who were drawn into his world of pharmacological experimentation. Along with his wife, Ann, Sasha was a pioneer who helped lay the groundwork for the therapeutic use and decriminalization of psychoactive drugs that is unfolding today. Although Sasha and Ann both passed away, their legacy is being carried on at the Shulgin Farm, which continues to be a space for psychedelic research, educational gatherings, and other activities. On May 2, the Shulgin Foundation will be launching “MDMA: From Molecule to Movement” at the Berkeley Alembic, an exhibit tracing the history of Shulgin’s influence in synthesizing and spreading the drug now known widely as “molly.” This episode features interviews with Wendy Tucker, chair of the Shulgin Foundation, Paul Daley, co-founder of the Alexander Shulgin Research…

People in this episode

Guests: Wendy Tucker, Paul Daley, Megan Bowers

Topics covered

• psychedelics
• pharmacological experimentation
• therapeutic use
• decriminalization
• research
• education

Keywords

• psychedelic drugs
• Sasha Shulgin
• Shulgin Foundation
• MDMA
• pharmacology
• therapeutic use
• decriminalization

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Shulgin Foundation

Places: East Bay, Lafayette, Berkeley Alembic

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