[dan_bk]

> this could easily lead people to re-evalute their life choices in a more permanent manner than normal

What if more people would realize that they're constantly being controlled by fear created by commercial and governmental interests? This loss of power probably contributes to the fact that such substances are mostly banned.

[Taek]

I think there's some validity to that. During the Vietnam War, LSD was associated with the same groups of people that were trying to stop the US from being involved, something that was pretty annoying to American military interests. While do think that that's part of the reason LSD got banned, I don't think that really contributes to why it's still banned.

I've been on the anarchist side of things for a lot longer than I've been doing psychedelics, but certainly on psychedelics you are more aware of the things constraining you. I remember being in a convenience store on 300ug of LSD, and seeing rows and rows of products. And my mind would look at a box of food and think "wow! that food says it's healthy for my family - I want to buy it", and looking at the next box of food and thinking "wow! this reduces heart risk - I want to buy it", and then being able to also take a step back and realize that this was all processed food and utter garbage, yet in my vulnerable state I was completely being manipulated by the branding. And I was horrified that this was considered a 'normal' way to shop. Misleading information (even if technically true) was being thrown at me left and right.

[kordless]

What if was simply a choice to face your (own) fears, and the 'loss of power' issue you mention is simply opportunists taking opportunity? Cognitive dissonance in those who make laws banning substances is more likely to be at cause here for the banning of substances.

I don't want to believe people want to keep others from their own choices, but I also know they exist.