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The Central Intelligence Agency's Operations Bluebird and Artichoke run psychedelic drug tests without subjects' consent.

1951

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Looking for a "truth serum," these Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) projects focus on psychotropics, THC, and psychedelics, with the intent of identifying drugs to be used for forced interrogation. Tests are run on government employees and members of the public–usually without their consent.

One person, a professional tennis player in a psychiatric institute, is given a mescaline derivative and dies following the injections. Another person will die by suicide in 1953 a week after being given LSD without their knowledge or consent.

Some of this research will produce the psychedelics and other substances that will define the drug culture of the 1960s.