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Here's some trivia about Research Chemicals, should an occasion ever arise wherein you need to look like you _impeccably_ know your shit on this topic.

How to say it?

HO, as in 4-HO-DiPT: 'hydroxy'

MeO, as in 5-MeO-DMT: 'methoxy'

PIHKaL: peakle

TIHKaL: teekle

Which Research Chemicals were banned first?

2ct7, amt, 2ci.

The most popular Research Chemicals today?

still 5-meo-dmt, 2ci, methylone; though dob and dom are rapidly making names for themselves.

Alexander Shulgin's nickname?

Sasha.

Similar chemical names?

Mean similarity in chemical structure, but, usually, not in effects. The various drugs beginning with '5-meo' or ending in '-dipt' are hugely different. Exceptions exist, of course, but generally, it's unwise to assume that similarly named chemicals have similar effects.

What are we waiting for?

Aside from mdma and 2cb, neither of them Research Chemicals, _none_ of Shulgin's favorite compounds have ever become available. Shulgin blessed his favorite drugs [all phenethylamines] with sexy names, in PIHKaL: Beatrice, Ganesha, Madam-6. Shulgin's favorite compounds are what he calls the 'ideal ladies'. I've often wondered why none of these substances became available during the Research Chemical boom. The larger world is still, more or less, waiting to try them.

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The math [tinder] of the situation: I've had these powders in me on many occasions. I'm a particular fan of methylone, which is perhaps the most popular Research Chemical [though the Shulgins don't really like it]. Methylone is mdmc: the methcathinone analogue of mdma or 'ecstasy'. In contrast to most Research Chemicals, methylone is non-hallucinogenic. It's a riff on ecstasy: happy, but less blastingly euphoric, less overwhelming, more chill. Methylone is like mde, which is sometimes sold as ecstasy anyway. Of the hallucinogenic Research Chems, I prefer 2ci.

I've taken lots of: methylone, 2ci, 5-meo-dmt, 4-fmp. I've taken at least twice: 2ce, 2ct7, 2ct2, amt, 5-meo-amt, 5-meo-dipt. Those experiences mark years-n-years-n-years-n-years in a young American's life: so many substances, locations, crowds, jokes, implications, slogans, theories, trysts, lisps. Every time I've attempted to write an overall sketch of my personal use, it's rapidly approached the length of a memoir. Too Much Too Much. But if anyone has questions about specific substances, I'm happy to answer based on my experience.



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_The_ internet source for information about these chemicals is the Vaults of Erowid, where you can find part of PIHKaL and part of TIHKaL. Erowid also boasts the largest collection of user reports for Research Chemicals - and, indeed, for _all drugs_. It's an incredible resource for psychonauts, one that has particularly lacked funding since Bob Wallace, Godfather of The Scene, died. I send Erowid my pennies annually.

Another spot of note is the Psychedelic Drugs Discussion Board at Bluelight.ru [formerly Bluelight.nu]. There, you can see people chat about these fairly obscure substances. A caveat, though; the Bluelight.ru drug boards are full of misinformation - the Psychedelic Drug board is generally better than the rest, but still falls victim to this tendency.