LSD can only be synthesized, and while I have no interest in learning how it’s made I can’t find a source that can tell me why it can’t occur on Earth without human intervention
In: Chemistry
Most naturally occuring hallucinogens aren’t hallucinogens on purpose. They didn’t evolve to induce hallucinations. As far as we can tell, the natural hallucinogenic properties of things like DMT evolved as a kind of insecticide or animal deterent. They can cause major brain and digestive problems in smaller mamals and bugs. They just happen to interact with the human brain (and large mamals) in a way that causes hallucinations not nerve problems.
So there was no evolutionary pressure for a plant to develop lysergic acid as a natural deterrent, especially since it’s synthesis takes a lot of energy that a plant might otherwise not want to waste.
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