4 ms·

LSD cannot be patented, so Big Pharma cannot make money on it - they'd have to compete on price, which would lead to really slim margins. If LSD is kept illegal

LSD cannot be patented, so Big Pharma cannot make money on it - they'd have to compete on price, which would lead to really slim margins. If LSD is kept illegal, they can sell patented "alternatives" at huge margins.

naasking 10y ago
> LSD cannot be patented, so Big Pharma cannot make money on it This doesn't entirely track. Certainly brand-name pharma that do drug research might not be interested, but generic pharma that simply copy drugs from the brands and sell them at steep discounts certainly would.
Broken_Hippo 10y ago
They can patent a process that gives them very reliable dosages, though. And like the other reply said, the Generic companies aren't relying on the patent protection anyway. They might find different sorts of chemical structures that are theraputically superior than LSD itself as well, but this stuff wont' happen without minimally having LSD medically legal. They can still sell the patented "alternatives" : LSD isn't a cure-all and isn't necessarily ideal for everyone. Besides, these patents will eventually run out, so they'll have to think up new ideas nevertheless.
nol13 10y ago
As much as I believe that psychedelic experiences should be available to those who seek them, and pro rec mj, LSD can't be legalized. Enough dumbasses out there will drink a vial and then try to drive their car to the moon. Penalties should be much less extreme though. Maybe designated psychedelic theme parks where it's legal and quality controlled with no access to motor vehicles? (with music too?)
- stephancoral 10y ago
  >Enough dumbasses out there will drink a vial and then try to drive their car to the moon Yet alcohol is totally legal.
- M_Grey 10y ago
  How is that different from drinking a fifth of vodka and doing the same? The difference is that in the years of people drinking, and the years of people dropping LSD, we have good stats on which is deadlier.
  - nol13 10y ago
    Do not disagree necessarily.. Like I said I think it should be readily available to those who seek it out, without the threat of substantial punishment, it would just be a shit show if Johny H.S. Senior is able to pick up a sheet at 7-11. How many "Johny turned the school cafeteria into an acid test" news stories is this LSD legalization experiment gonna last for? It pains me to have to say that because I'd love to be able to pick some up at 7-11, just not sure if it's the best idea.
- always_good 10y ago
  If you drank a vial, you'd be curled up on the ground or in bed, not living some scene from The Hangover like the movies portray.
  - nol13 10y ago
    Na I aint no lightweight.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
soundwave106 10y ago
Sandoz patented LSD in 1948, actually. The way patent laws work these days, if there is any pharmaceutical value in LSD, I bet current owner Novartis would fire up their team of lawyers. :/ The medical industry considers the hallucinations recreational LSD users enjoy a nasty side effect. If this wasn't the case, such would possibly be on the market specific known treatments that LSD / psilocybin might help (eg cluster headaches), versus the industry trying to look at similar non-hallucinogenic compounds (eg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-Bromo-LSD https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-Bromo-LSD) or other completely different alternatives.
Symmetry 10y ago
You're right that they can't use LSD straight. But they can develop a nearly identical molecule with identical effects, shepherd that molecule through the FDA approval process, and then have a profitable monopoly. Which on one level sucks but on another level means that if we really can benefit from LSD as a drug then we should expect Big Pharma to let us get it through our doctors once the regulatory/legal barriers to using it go away.

naasking 10y ago

> LSD cannot be patented, so Big Pharma cannot make money on it This doesn't entirely track. Certainly brand-name pharma that do drug research might not be interested, but generic pharma that simply copy drugs from the brands and sell them at steep discounts certainly would.

Broken_Hippo 10y ago

They can patent a process that gives them very reliable dosages, though. And like the other reply said, the Generic companies aren't relying on the patent protection anyway. They might find different sorts of chemical structures that are theraputically superior than LSD itself as well, but this stuff wont' happen without minimally having LSD medically legal. They can still sell the patented "alternatives" : LSD isn't a cure-all and isn't necessarily ideal for everyone. Besides, these patents will eventually run out, so they'll have to think up new ideas nevertheless.

nol13 10y ago

As much as I believe that psychedelic experiences should be available to those who seek them, and pro rec mj, LSD can't be legalized. Enough dumbasses out there will drink a vial and then try to drive their car to the moon. Penalties should be much less extreme though. Maybe designated psychedelic theme parks where it's legal and quality controlled with no access to motor vehicles? (with music too?)

stephancoral 10y ago
>Enough dumbasses out there will drink a vial and then try to drive their car to the moon Yet alcohol is totally legal.
M_Grey 10y ago
How is that different from drinking a fifth of vodka and doing the same? The difference is that in the years of people drinking, and the years of people dropping LSD, we have good stats on which is deadlier.
- nol13 10y ago
  Do not disagree necessarily.. Like I said I think it should be readily available to those who seek it out, without the threat of substantial punishment, it would just be a shit show if Johny H.S. Senior is able to pick up a sheet at 7-11. How many "Johny turned the school cafeteria into an acid test" news stories is this LSD legalization experiment gonna last for? It pains me to have to say that because I'd love to be able to pick some up at 7-11, just not sure if it's the best idea.
always_good 10y ago
If you drank a vial, you'd be curled up on the ground or in bed, not living some scene from The Hangover like the movies portray.
- nol13 10y ago
  Na I aint no lightweight.
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

soundwave106 10y ago

Sandoz patented LSD in 1948, actually. The way patent laws work these days, if there is any pharmaceutical value in LSD, I bet current owner Novartis would fire up their team of lawyers. :/ The medical industry considers the hallucinations recreational LSD users enjoy a nasty side effect. If this wasn't the case, such would possibly be on the market specific known treatments that LSD / psilocybin might help (eg cluster headaches), versus the industry trying to look at similar non-hallucinogenic compounds (eg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-Bromo-LSD https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-Bromo-LSD) or other completely different alternatives.

Symmetry 10y ago

You're right that they can't use LSD straight. But they can develop a nearly identical molecule with identical effects, shepherd that molecule through the FDA approval process, and then have a profitable monopoly. Which on one level sucks but on another level means that if we really can benefit from LSD as a drug then we should expect Big Pharma to let us get it through our doctors once the regulatory/legal barriers to using it go away.