What a strange, intriguing canvas, this square made of squares that were used to transport drugs! In a Vice interview from 2014, LSD blotter art collector Mark McCloud talks about the shift in the artistic vision: A Generation of Artistsīy the 1970s, LSD blotter art was not only a way to brand a particular manufacturer’s drug, but it was also an interesting new medium for artists. It influenced our internal and external worlds, inspiring and leaving behind a new era of artistic expression. Thompson, Jimi Hendrix and Aldous Huxley, taking acid was a gateway to another way of viewing environments and processing what it means to be human. During this decade, Timothy Leary-famed psychologist, writer, and psychedelic advocate-coined the catchphrase, “Turn on, tune it, drop out.”įrom The Beatles to Hunter S. It left a significant impression on the ‘60s and onward, though that decade’s generation was especially outspoken about dropping acid. The influence LSD has had on Western culture is undeniable. Using blotter paper as a delivery mechanism for LSD opened up a whole new world for branded drugs, served in style. In addition, at the time it was also a way to know that the drugs were legitimate and not a fake product. It allowed chemists to create easily identifiable drugs. But nothing was as personalized and captivating as LSD blotter art. Sure, chemists could use different sizes and colors of capsules to distinguish their products. This made for an almost secret society of psychonauts looking to expand their consciousness. Whether intended to be ingested or simply collected, blotter sheets branded drugs.

This new medium of blotter art brought a particular beauty to drug use. Consider that a one-gram sugar cube may only contain one hit of LSD, and a one-gram crystal of LSD was equal to 10,000 doses! This made the use of blotter that much more appealing since it was a lightweight and discreet method of transporting and distributing acid. For example, the same mandatory minimum sentence applied for one gram of LSD crystal and one gram sugar cube containing LSD. Legally speaking, the laws were not reasonably representative of the substance and its form factor. This is how LSD doses are measured: one square = one hit. Later, the sheets were perforated into even smaller squares, typically 100 per sheet. The square sheets of blotter paper were soaked in LSD, and the paper absorbed and dried quickly. This was the perfect mechanism for transporting LSD. It was deemed inadequate for writing but was excellent for absorbing extra ink or liquid. In order to safely hide the drug, chemists popularized the method of using a “blotter.” Blotting paper is a highly absorbent paper whose invention was accidental, much like LSD. What Is a Blotter?Īfter becoming illegal, LSD continued to be distributed through underground channels. And its presentation was as unique as the users themselves, inspired by a generation of artists. As the hallmark drug of the ’60, LSD was the perfect accoutrement for all hippies and beatniks, psychonauts and explorers. It was the way LSD looked that also changed the experience in a way. The method of transportation and consumption wasn’t the only creative element. It wasn’t just a drug-it was an entire, often inexplicable experience. But in an era amplified by hippie culture, flower power and freedom of expression, the creation of LSD blotter art solidified the cultural significance of this potent psychedelic. Originally, LSD was packaged into pills, or the liquid was dropped onto sugar cubes. Instead, people were finding creative ways to consume this psychedelic drug. Many other states and countries soon followed suit. government first banned the use of LSD in California in 1966. And what is more fashionable than a mind-altering substance served up on a beautiful piece of art? Thus, LSD blotter art was born. Few drugs have become as synonymous with a psychedelic trip as LSD, which is commonly referred to as “acid.” Having made its imprint on music, art and culture worldwide, LSD was here to stay. Like many substances, LSD was born in a laboratory and made its way to the public for recreational use. Then free samples that Sandoz Pharmaceuticals distributed to the public largely grew the user base of this fascinating drug. But researchers did not uncover the ideal medical use for this psychedelic substance.

Army and the CIA experimented with LSD as a truth serum for interrogation. He intended to create a blood stimulant and didn’t realize the hallucinogenic effects until 1943, when he accidentally consumed the substance while working in the lab.įor the next couple of decades, psychiatrists used LSD to study behavioral and personality changes and to treat addiction, depression, psychosomatic diseases, and other mental health conditions. Albert Hofmann synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) while working at Sandoz Pharmaceutical in Basel, Switzerland.

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