There is a fascinating book The Most Dangerous Man in America: Timothy Leary, Richard Nixon and the Hunt for the Fugitive King of LSD
by Bill Minutaglio and Steven L. Davis (2018).
They went thought new source materials and interviews. Each of the men thought the other was the most dangerous.
I really do not know what to believe about Leary. I saw him speak once. A showman as well as a seeker. Could work a room.
Hunter Thompson believed Leary was the biggest CIA double agent and liar in the country. Hated his guts.
He made a deal to let his sweet wife go to prison instead of him at one point. That probably sums him up for me.
I wonder how many people were led into the danger of LSD use and never came back. Suicide, worsened existing mental illness, prison record, destroyed relationships.
>I wonder how many people were led into the danger of LSD use and never came back.
Roky Erickson (13th Floor Elevators)
Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd)
Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) perhaps, hard to say where his different problems start/stop (mental abuse at home, drug abuse, drug “treatment”, etc).