LSD's history intertwines with Nazi Germany and CIA experiments in the 20th century

LSD, a psychedelic drug, has a complex history involving Nazi Germany and the CIA. Initially discovered in 1938 by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann, it was later explored by the Nazis for interrogation techniques, seeking a "truth drug" during World War II. After the war, the CIA continued these experiments under Project MK-Ultra, testing LSD on unwitting subjects in the 1950s. The agency considered using the drug as a weapon against the Soviet Union but ultimately failed to develop it for that purpose. By the 1960s, LSD became popular in American counterculture but was banned due to its association with anti-establishment movements. Recently, there has been renewed interest in its potential medical benefits, with some countries beginning to allow research on psychedelics for mental health treatment.