LSD and the science community in the 1950's

Throughout the 1950’various scientists experimented with LSD both as a personal tool for enlightenment, as well as a cure for certain psychiatric cases. For example, Dr. Humphry Osmond, doctor at the Princeton Neuropsychiatric Institute, conducted a study involving nearly one thousand hard-core alcoholics. Under the influence of infamous acid supporter Captain Alfred M. Hubbard, Osmond hypothesized that alcoholics could benefit from the ‘deep genuine religious experience’ that came along with the consumption of LSD. The results were astounding; after thirteen years of utilizing this method Osmond and his colleagues concluded that when psychedelic therapy is given to alcoholics approximately one-third would remain sober, the other one-third will show considerable benefit. This study led Hubbard, Osmond, as well as many other young scientists to wonder about the capabilities of LSD. Many felt that LSD could possibly help more then just the sick and mentally ill, they felt that it could help transform peoples belief systems and thereby help to promote world peace.
Another prominent scientist in the early development of LSD was Dr. Sidney Cohen. Once a professor at the University of California, Cohen gathered information from forty-four doctors regarding over five thousand patients; The most frequent complaints voiced by psychedelic therapists was “unmanageability”. Only eight instances of “psychotic reaction lasting longer then forty-eight hours” were reported in the twenty-five thousand cases surveyed. Not a single case of addiction was indicated, nor any deaths from toxic effects.
Based on these findings Dr. Cohen concluded that with the proper precautions and given to the proper people psychedelics could yield great benefits. Unfortunately, these tests were not all so well received.
The biggest obstacle for these visionary scientists would be the preconceived views the US government had on LSD as a result of their tests during the 1950’s. For example, according to Robert Bernstein, former assistant surgeon general of the American Army, “perhaps by coincidence, LSD was almost simultaneously recognized by the army as a military threat and by certain segments of our US population as a means for self fulfillment.” The governments view on LSD would not easily be swayed, however a young Harvard professor by the name of Timothy Leary was willing to do anything to try.