Rise of a Recreational Drug

This chapter describes the early, little-known phase of MDMA as a recreational drug. MDMA was first detected by scientists in a forensic laboratory in 1970, with a few further detections up to 1976. A previously unknown DEA document details these early findings. Distribution was limited, and MDMA was initially produced as a 'legal alternative for MDA' (scheduled in 1970). The chapter mentions a 1970 Stanislav Lem science fiction novel that seemed to describe MDMA's effects, new documentation suggesting Alexander Shulgin synthesized MDMA in 1975, and Timothy Leary's first MDMA experiences in 1978. Two 1970s 'hotspots' for use were the Midwest and, from 1976, Oregon and California.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of the early, rather unknown, phase of MDMA as a recreational drug. MDMA was first detected by scientists in a forensic laboratory in 1970, and then a few more times up until 1976. A previously unknown document of the United States DEA has been used to describe these early detections. The evidence shows that up until 1976, the distribution of MDMA was rather limited and MDMA was initially produced as a ‘legal alternative for MDA’, which had been scheduled in 1970. Mention is made of a 1970 science fiction novel by the prominent writer Stanislav Lem, which seemed to describe the effects of MDMA, as well as of new documentation suggesting that the American drug chemist Alexander Shulgin had synthesized MDMA in 1975. A description of the American drug guru Timothy Leary’s first experiences with MDMA in 1978 is also given. There were two ‘hotspots’ for MDMA use during the 1970s: initially in the Midwest, and from 1976 onwards in Oregon and California.