Short answers, pulled from the story.
Albert Hofmann discovered the psychedelic properties of LSD in 1943. He had synthesized the compound in 1938 but did not notice its hallucinogenic effects until four years later when he absorbed a small amount through his fingertips.
Anthropological research suggests that humans evolved to counter-exploit plant neurotoxins to create a co-evolutionary relationship with psychotropic substances. This evolutionary advantage may have improved survival rates by allowing early humans to consume botanical chemicals that served the function of endogenous neurotransmitters.
The United States classified marijuana as a Schedule I drug in 1970 through the Controlled Substances Act. This classification placed marijuana alongside heroin and LSD, implying the highest abuse potential and no accepted medical use.
Recreational prevalence of psychoactive drugs among young adults and college students in the 1960s counterculture movement was reported at 20 to 25 percent. This era was characterized by a cultural mindset that was open and curious, challenging traditional social norms and authority.
British researcher David Nutt disputed the claim that moderate alcohol consumption has substantial health benefits. He stated that studies showing benefits for moderate alcohol consumption in some middle-aged men lacked controls for the variable of what the subjects were drinking beforehand.