N&PD Moderators: Skorpio | someguyontheinternet
TheSanityAssassin said:So maybe I'm reading it wrong, but what I get is that it would be possible for someone to synthesize MDA by extracting the safrole from sassafras oil, and then adding ammonia to it? I don't know anything beyond high school chemistry, and what I've read on the net, but that doesn't seem like it'd be incredibly complicated.
The male initiation cult of the Bimin-Kuskusmin is the vehicle for both storing and transmitting the essence of their cultural lore. It is a hierarchical organisation comprising twelve successive stages of initiation, a deeper level of esoteric knowledge being imparted at each one. The elders of the highest degrees have themselves passed through each of the initiatory ordeals of the lower ranks. Although a considerable number of psychoactive plants are used in Bimin-Kuskusmin ritual life, three types of substance are central to the workings of the cult: ginger, tobacco and hallucinogenic mushrooms. All three are sacred and are ritually tended to by sacrificing marsupials and rodents at the place of their growth. Both women and children are forbidden to approach these sacred substances. The first ten degrees represent the complete cycle of male initiation, whilst the eleventh and twelfth are the junior and senior grades of a ritual elder. Novices belonging to the first three grades are given ginger which, although it is not normally considered to be a psychoactive plant, does cause visual and auditory hallucinogens when taken (as it is among the Bimin-Kuskusmin) after fasting and whilst in a state of great expectation and fear. Initiates of the next six stages smoke sacred tobacco whilst the mushrooms are only used by those in the highest three grades. Thus, each successive stage involves taking a more potent psychoactive substance. Whilst an individual is allowed to use the sacred substance appropriate to his grade (or that of any lower grade) on no account is he permitted to try those of higher levels. During the states of trance induced by each of the substances the initiate is said to travel out of his body and, with the help of a guardian ancestor spirit, visit the ancestral world. If he makes this difficult journey successfully then he will gain the sacred knowledge appropriate to one of his station.
evlove said:I did come across this article which I thought was interesting:
http://ethnopharmacology.com/fungi/index.html
Honestly, the synthesis isn't that difficult for someone who's had some courses in organic chemistry and also is willing to shell out at least a thousand dollars in equipment and precursors.
The real problem is probably tracking down everything you would possibly need in a finite amount of time
morninggloryseed said:Anyone have a clue as to the components of peprika? I have seen it (alone with nutmeg) listed in some official US list of psychoactive plants. I will have to look in my notes to see exactly where I found it, as it was years ago.