Newsgroups: alt.drugs
Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!mintaka.lcs.mit.edu!yale!yale.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!batcomputer!reed!henson!milton!lamontg
From: lamontg@milton.u.washington.edu (Lamont Granquist)
Subject: The much-neglected "Monthy" posting and FAQ list...
Message-ID: <1992Jan15.062342.21119@milton.u.washington.edu>
Organization: Operation:  Mindcrime
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 06:23:42 GMT


                        The alt.drugs Monthly Posting List

                                      and

                F R E Q E N T L Y   A S K E D   Q U E S T I O N S

                        by lamontg@milton.u.washington.edu
                      
           (Please Read this at least once before posting to alt.drugs)

From:  Intro
Subject:  Introduction to alt.drugs and the Monthly List
Last Update: 12-30-91 

     Welcome to alt.drugs.  This is a forum for the discussion generally
of recreational drugs.  To a large extent the traffic on this group deals
with both currently legal and illegal recreational drugs.  Discussions
commonly are concerned with both the psychological and chemical effects of
drugs, along with the social aspects of drug use.  Discussions about
prescription medications would probably be best posted to sci.med. 
Likewise, discussions about legal psychoactive drugs (nootropic drugs,
amino acids, etc) might better be posted in alt.psychoactives. 
talk.politics.drugs is yet another related newsgroup which is for the
discussion of the political and legal ramifications of recreational drug
use.  Generally, however, people on alt.drugs aren't too tense if you post
something which really should belong in another newsgroup.  In particular,
cross-posting between alt.drugs and talk.politics.drugs is fairly common. 
     The discussion about illegal drug use is frequently very
controversial. One item should be immediately cleared up:  It is *NOT* a
commonly espoused theme that irresponsible illegal drug use should be
*ENCOURAGED*, and the purpose of this list is not to encourage
irresponsible illegal (or legal) drug use.  The majority of people who
read alt.drugs, however, do generally condone legal or illegal drug use
provided it is done *RESPONSIBLY* and that means knowledgably. 
     Part of the purpose of this list is to provide accurate information
about drugs.  In particular there are many myths about legal and illegal
drug use, and there is quite a large amount of disinformation also.  For
the most part I have taken some fairly large pains to insure that this
list contains accurate information.  It is not, however, meant to be
all-encompassing (that would make for an incredibly large list and I don't
have *THAT* much free time).  There are also FAQ lists on the following
topics, all of which are available at several FTP sites (I will also send
you copies of any/all of these FAQs if you e-mail me a request to
lamontg@milton.u.washington.edu): 

FAQ-Bibliography     : Extensive references to books and articles about drugs 
FAQ-Ecstasy          : Information about Ecstasy (aka MDMA, MDM, Adam)
FAQ-Everclear        : The Everclear list from rec.food.drink
FAQ-LSD              : Information about LSD 
FAQ-Misc             : YOU'RE READING IT!  
FAQ-MJ-Consumption   : Information on methods of social marijuana consumption 
FAQ-Natural-High     : Info on legal means of altering your consciousness 

             THE IMPORTANT BIT:  Frequently Asked Questions

     Also, this list was created with another purpose in mind.  alt.drugs
tends to get bogged down in traffic that is continuously repeated.  In
particular threads on the FTP sites, how to beat drug testing, and the
infamous LSD and strychnine thread have been hashed and rehashed :) more
times than many people can remember.  Before posting something to the net,
net.etiquette requires you to read this list first.  If you don't find an
answer in here, and you cannot find an answer in any of the single-topic
FAQs listed above then a posting to alt.drugs is welcomed. 
     The following topics are covered in this FAQ:

Introduction       : YOU'RE READING IT!
FTP sites, etc     : Information on alt.drugs related net issues like FTP sites
Common FAQs        : Short and blunt answers to most FAQs (Please READ THIS!)
Drug Myths         : Common misconceptions about drugs (READ THIS TOO!)
Drug Testing       : A quick section on how to beat drug tests
Organizations      : A list of Anti-War on Drugs organizations
 
If you are reading this list with rn, then it is laid out in such a way so
that you can easily skip to the next subject by hitting a ^G (<control>-G).
If you're using nn, then you can hit "G%" to break this article up into a
digest.
 
==============================================================================

From:  FTP list
Subject:  FTP sites, anonymous posting, and other network issues.
Last Updated: 12-30-91 

The following is list of Internet sites which have FTP access to files related
to alt.drugs:

site [internet address] (contact person)
   /directory:        description
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

life.slhs.udel.edu [128.175.4.33] (tom@genie.slhs.udel.edu)
   /alt.drugs:  alt.drugs FAQs, selected alt.drugs articles, .gifs
jyu.fi [130.234.0.1] (eloranta@jyu.fi)
   /pub/alt.drugs:  archived articles since 25 Apr 91, FAQs, .gifs
   -->this is the main archive site for *ALL* alt.drugs postings<--
lcs.mit.edu [18.26.0.36] 
   /news/alt/drugs:  last several days article for those without USENET access
rusmv1.rus.uni-stuttgart.de [129.69.1.12]
   /soft/kommunikation/news/spool/alt/drugs:  same as lcs.mit.edu
milton.u.washington.edu [128.95.136.1] (lamontg@milton.u.washington.edu)
   /public/alt.drugs:  misc alt.drugs related material, FAQs 
pit-manager.mit.edu [18.72.1.58]
   /pub/activism:  has constitution of US, Bill of Rights, etc
ftp.eff.org [192.88.144.3]
   /pub/academic/civics:  Government addresses, constitution, Senate fax#, etc
 
(send updates to lamontg@milton.u.washington.edu or post)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is a list of persons on alt.drugs that will post articles
submitted to them via e-mail anonymously.  In other words if you would like
to remain anonymous, write up your article, and e-mail it to one of these
people prefaced with a note that you would like it posted anonymously:

     lamontg@milton.u.washington.edu
     mikea@casbah.acns.nwu.edu

(volunteers for anonymous posting would be welcome :)

===============================================================================

From:  FAQ Header
Subject:  Common Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and answers
Last Updated: 12-30-91 

1)    HEY D00DZ, WHERE CAN I GET SOME KILLER WEED (or LSD, MDMA, etc)?!?!?
2)    Do banana peels have hallucinogenic substances in them? [etc...]
3)    Does LSD commonly have strychnine in it? [etc...]
4)    How can I make LSD? [etc...]
5)    What is Ecstasy/MDMA/Adam? [etc...] 

You can skip to a specific FAQ by searching for the regular expression '^x' 
where x is the number of the question you want to read.

1)    HEY D00DZ, WHERE CAN I GET SOME KILLER WEED (or LSD, MDMA, etc)?!?!?

           Grow up, and get a life.  Anyone stupid enough to setup a
      transaction over a public network (that could very easily be monitored
      by the FBI) deserves to get caught.  Likewise, please don't send e-mail
      to the frequent posters (especially me), asking to purchase drugs. 

2)    Do banana peels have hallucinogenic substances in them?  Can you get
      high by smoking bananna peels?       

           No.  This is an urban legend which was started by the Berkeley 
      _Barb_ in the late 60's.  Sidney Cohen analyzed bananas and found that
      they contained no hallucinogenic substances.  Also, rumors that you can 
      smoke peanut shells to get high, are most likely a spin-off of the
      banana peel legend.

3)    Does LSD commonly have strychnine in it?  It strychnine the cause of
      cramps/nausea on an LSD trip?  Does strychnine cause the "tracers" 
      from an LSD trip?  etc...

           Your chances of getting strychnine contaminated _blotter_ LSD,
      are probably about the same as your chances of getting hit by a piece
      of the wing sheared off of a passing 747.  Strychnine is not the
      cause of "tracers" or of nausea.  There is a text file on this subject
      available via FTP from milton.u.washington.edu which goes into the
      subject in much more detail.

(NOTE:  This text file is currently vaporware -- just trust me on the LSD +
 strychnine thing)

4)    How can I make LSD?  And what about the instructions in the Anarchist's
      Cookbook for making LSD?

           LSD is not easy to make.  If you're seriously interested the
      various methods of synthesis can be found in chemistry journals (see
      the Merck Index for a list of references).  Also, the book _Psychedelic
      Chemistry_ has some rather good, referenced info on how to synthesize
      LSD.  However, do expect to be in *way* over your head unless you've
      had at least a few years of college chemistry.
           And the synthesis instructions in the Anarchist's Cookbook are
      about 90% bullshit.  The "synthesis" given is at best a recipie for the
      extraction of Lysergic Acid Amides (which is not LSD), and some have
      commented that the instructions are still flawed and dangerous.  Its
      something which is best to be avoided. 

5)    What is Ecstasy?  What is MDMA?  What is Adam?  What are the 
      effects?  Is it an aphrodisiac?  Is it a designer drug?

           Ecstasy chemically is 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA.
      Its also known as:  MDM, M&M, Adam, XTC or X.  Its is *NOT* the same
      as MDA, MDE ('Eve') or MPTP.  Its chemically related to methamphetamine
      but has a much different method of action.  
           In large doses Ecstasy can cause hallucinations (and a chemical
      relative, MDA, causes hallucinations at much lower doses), however it
      is not accurate to call it a hallucinogen.  Since it tends to increase
      empathy and communication with no ego-disrupting effects it has been
      labeled as either an "enactogen" or "emphathogen".  Based on its 
      effects, there was some speculation that its was a chemical involved
      in the process of falling in love.  This is incorrect, but its 
      indicative of what the MDMA high feels like.
           MDMA is not chemically related to LSD, and really cannot be
      compared to LSD.  "Bad Trips" on MDMA are extremely rare, and 
      there is no ego disruption associated with an MDMA trip like there
      is in an LSD trip. 
           MDMA also is not technically an aphrodisiac.  It does not directly
      stimulate sexual desire, however its empathogenic effect does tend to
      lead to intimacy.  It has been described as a "hug drug".
           It is not a "Designer Drug" created during the 80's by underground
      chemists.  It was first synthesized in 1914, and was used 
      recreationally prior to the 1980's.  For more information on MDMA 
      see the specific FAQ on Ecstasy (available via FTP -- see above). 



===============================================================================

From:  Myths Header
Subject:  Drug Myths
Last Updated: 12-30-91 

These are all a variety of things which commonly get passed off as "truth" by
anti-drug groups, such as the PDFA, DEA, DARE, etc.  I have included references
for those interested in more information.

MYTH:  Marijuana causes brain damage or Marijuana gets between nerve 
       synapses and "widens them up".  

     This myth is based upon a study done by Robert G. Heath in the middle to
late 1970's.  Heath claimed to have found brain damage in the deep brain
sites of three monkeys exposed to marijuana smoke and i.v. delta-9-THC (the
active ingredient in marijuana).  This study, however, has severe flaws in
it.  Most importantly is that Heath did not find any dead brain cells.  He
found "damage" such as a change in synaptic cleft width, and clumping of the
synaptic vesicles.  These changes are not well regarded as being indications
of brain damage, and the methods used to determine that these changes took
place were highly subject to bias--which Dr. Health did not control for.
In fact the clumping of the synaptic vesicles, which Health claimed as being
"brain damage", is a normal variant in the mammalian brain.  Also, two studies 
published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1977, found
no evidence of brain damage in the brains of heavy smokers using computerized
tomography methods.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.).  Institute of Medicine.  Division of
     Health Sciences Policy.  _Marijuana_and_Health_.  Washington:  National
     Academy Press.  ISBN 0-309-03236-9.  LC 81-86534.
 
The following sections will be eventually included:
(Whee, more vaporware... In the meantime see Paul Hager's marijuana myths 
 paper at milton.u.washington.edu in /public/alt.drugs/marijuana-myths)

MYTH:  Marijuana causes reproductive system damage
MYTH:  Marijuana concentrates in the brain and reproductive organs
MYTH:  Marijuana causes breast enlargement in males
MYTH:  Marijuana causes immune system damage
MYTH:  Marijuana causes chromosome damage
MYTH:  Marijuana potency has increased 10 times since the 1960's
MYTH:  Marijuana is a gateway drug
MYTH:  Marijuana metabolites stay in your body for 30 days and "do things"...
MYTH:  Marijuana is more carcinogenic than tobacco
MYTH:  LSD causes chromosome damage
MYTH:  Designer Drugs -- Custom made chemicals of the '80s and '90s

===============================================================================

From:  Drug Testing FAQ
Subject:  Drug Testing
Last Updated:  12-30-91 

Beating Drug Metabolite tests (for informational purposes *only* of course).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

     There are several commonly used drug metabolite tests:  EMIT, RIA,
Abuscreen, etc.  All of these tests are reasonably easy to beat, given a
little advance planning.  First of all, the drug which is most easily
tested for is marijuana -- its claimed that drug tests can detect
marijuana use up to two months previous.  By following the following
guidelines, its frequently reported that non-chronic marijuana smoking two
weeks prior to the test still resulted in a negative test result.  Two
weeks, however, is probably the minimum safety allowance. 
     In order to prepare for a drug metabolite test, make sure that you
flush your system adequately.  Every day prior to the test, drink at least
eight glasses of liquid (preferably water).  Do *NOT*, however, do this
to excess -- you can end up with water intoxication, and people have
actually overdosed and died off of water.  On the day of the test, you
likewise need to dilute your urine by drinking water -- drink 4-6 glasses
or so, and piss until your urine turns clear.  When its clear that means
that the concentration of all the solutes in the urine is lower
*including* the drug metabolites. This process can be aided by taking some
caffiene, or the prescription diuretic Lasix (again, don't overdo anything
-- there is nothing to be gained by drinking more water/taking more
diuretics -- 80mg Lasix should be quite sufficient).  The clear dilute
urine can also be masked by taking Vitamin B-2 which will color it and
make it less suspicious (use 50-100mg). 
     Should you fail the initial test you will most likely be required to
have a confirmatory GC/MS test.  For this test, the best precautions are
abstinence and prayer.  You should not smoke between the time you get
tested for the first time and the results come back -- if they're positive
and you have to take a GC/MS test, you will be screwed.  GC/MS tests are
much more sensitive than the preliminary immunoassays. 
     There are several substances, some marketed commercially, which are
reported to interfere with the immunoassays to give a negative test
result. Generally, these are treated with some skepticism (but if you
really feel like trying them...).  In particular, vinegar and
phenylpropanolamine (Dexatrim) do not work.  Zinc Sulfate is reported to
work -- take 250mg the night before, and a few hours before the test -- DO
NOT TAKE ANY MORE OF THIS CHEMICAL.  Also the following two products claim
to be effective screens: 

     Test Free       -- Zydot Unlimited Inc.
                        Box 9485
                        Tulsa OK 74157
                        (918) 747-2400

     Naturally Klean -- Houston Enterprises
                        PO Box 27776
                        Tempe AZ 85285
                        (602) 968-0773

     As a last resort, piss tests can be doped with chemicals.  Bleach
detergent, blood, Draino crystals are reported to work at least on the
EMIT test (I would not expect them to interfere at all on the GC/MS
tests). Its apparently not necessary to spike it with a large quantity,
and the chemicals will noticably effect the urine and could be detected. 
     For more information see Abbie Hoffman's book "Steal this Urine Test".

============================================================================== 

From:  Orgs
Subject:  Organizations
Last Updated:  12-30-91 

This list is composed entirely out of postings from the net.  I don't 
guarantee anything about the organizations, their addresses or their
descriptions.  The DPF, Albert Hofmann foundation and NORML are probably
the most widely known and respected of these organizations.
 
Drug Policy Foundation
4801 Massachusetts Ave., NW., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20016-2087
(202) 895-1634
Desc:  The DPF supports legalization of cannabis and medicalization or
       legalization of harder drugs.  They are a more mainstream
       organization than NORML.

The Albert Hofmann Foundation
1341 Ocean Avenue, Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(213) 281-8110
Desc:  Educational group building a library on research done on 
       consciousness, including LSD studies.
       Free newsletter is available.

PRIDE
The Hurt Building, Suite 210
50 Hurt Plaza
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 577-4500 or 1-800-67-PRIDE
Desc:  Anti-Drug, Pro-WOD group.  Find out what the opposition is up to!
       Call their 1-800 number and piss 'em off!

National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws (NORML)
1636 R St., N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20009
(202) 483-5500
Desc:  This really shouldn't need any description
NOTE:  Another address I've got is: 2001 'S' Street, NW Suite 640, DC 20009

National Drug Strategy Network
2000 L St., N.W., Suite 702
Washington, D.C.  20036
Desc:  ???

Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics (ACT)
PO Box 21210
Kalorama Station
Washington, DC  20009
(202) 483-8595
Desc:  Physicians who want broader ability to use cannabis therapeutically 

Multidisciplinary Assoc. for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
23A Shaler Lane
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 547-7271
Desc:  Educational group seeking to give drug study legitimazation through
       public policy channels.  Supports drug research projects worldwide.

Coalition for 100% Drug Reform
9 Bleecker Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 995-1245
Desc:  Political, grass-roots activist group seeking an end to zero-
       tolerance policies and promoting safe drug use education.

The No More Drug War Foundation
Box 18780
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 320-1910
Desc:  Activist group seeking to bring an end to the drug war through
       grass-roots political action & education.

Ed Hassle's Freedom Fighters
Trans-High Corp
211 East 43rd St.
NY, NY 10017
Desc:  Associated with High Times, similar agenda to NORML.

-- 
Lamont Granquist              Disclaimer:  if UW ever finds out what I post... 
lamontg@u.washington.edu      For quotes and other useless info see my .plan
alt.drugs FTP site: milton.u.washington.edu[128.95.136.1] dir:/public/alt.drugs
