LSD is essentially a good thing, says science

LSD can make you do some weird stuff. You might see shimmering letters suspended in the sky, or believe you have been set on fire. But two studies have found LSD might actually have some practical uses too.

Researchers from the Universities of Alabama and British Columbia found that hallucinogenic drugs can make men behave more “peaceful and compassionately”. They went through data on convicted criminals, finding that of the 56 per cent who had admitted taking LSD, only 27 per cent had been arrested for domestic abuse – compared to nearly double that who had never tried the drug.

And a separate study by Imperial College London found that LSD can “improve psychological wellbeing in the mid to long term”. The research was led by Professor David Nutt, a former government advisor on drugs and vociferous campaigner for changes to our drug laws. Nutt found that LSD can “improve psychological wellbeing in the mid to long term”.

The study of twenty (probably) very willing volunteers measured their emotions two weeks after taking a dose. It found that they experienced “increased optimism” and “no changes in delusional thinking”.