Shulgin

Alexander Theodore Shulgin (June 17, 1925 – June 2, 2014) was an American chemist and pharmacologist whose work with psychedelic compounds expanded modern knowledge of psychoactive substances. He and his wife Ann Shulgin synthesized and tested hundreds of phenethylamines and tryptamines, documenting their chemical syntheses, dosages, and subjective effects. His approach combined rigorous laboratory methods with user-oriented pharmacology, emphasizing dose-ranging exploration and qualitative reporting.

Shulgin is best known for co-authoring PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story and TiHKAL: The Continuation, which present detailed synthesis instructions, chemical data, and annotated descriptions of effects. The books also discuss safety considerations and legal issues. Among his notable achievements was the broad documentation of MDMA (ecstasy) and many related compounds, which helped popularize psychedelic chemistry in the late 20th century and influenced later research into psychedelic-assisted therapy, despite ongoing legal restrictions.

Shulgin lived and conducted much of his work in California. He died in 2014 at his home in Lafayette, California. His writings continue to be referenced by researchers, clinicians, and psychedelic communities, and his work remains controversial because it publicly disseminated information about the synthesis of illegal substances while raising questions about safety, regulation, and ethical boundaries.