When considering only acquiring substances, unless you know someone who has/is a solid source, your best bet is probably to make use of what's referred to as "dark net markets", which basically means "forums within Tor dedicated to selling substances." You can read about how to get involved with one of these through various resources online. In this case, Google is your friend.

Do note that it's not trivial to get into this in a cautious way. It will take some work to get Bitcoins, and it's possible you may lose some money to fraudulent sellers. However, the people I know source all their psychedelics this way, so it does work (at least for some people).

On the subject of finding people: if you're comfortable, you can invite your friends. This might not be wise if they're not comfortable with psychedelics, so tread lightly. Anecdotally, I got into all this literally just by asking people I knew, it turned out they where all willing and things have been fun ever since!

Probably not the fastest way, but you could keep an eye on Hopkins' site and volunteer for a study:

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/research/volunteer...

It has the added effect of being legal, and being done in a setting meant to give one a pleasant experience. Their psilocybin ("magic mushrooms") research is worth checking out. They found it had no lasting harmful effects in any of the volunteers, and overall seemed to have long-lasting positive effects in many people:

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/single_do...

You seek out people engaged in illegal behavior and hope that there is a limit upon which laws they will violate and that that limit includes not harming you. If you're lucky, you're at the Napster end of the spectrum. The biker gang end if you're less lucky. Worse if you're unlucky.

Succumbing to positive peer pressure is a good thing. If you're friends aren't into it, then go have fun doing what they're into. Compared to walking in the woods with your child, psychedelics are not very high on the scale of profundity.

The best way to get regulated drugs is through the darknet. If take the time to do your research, and spend the coin to get lab tests, you can pretty much guarantee that every dose will be medical grade. Far safer than a street dealer.

The two best starting places are reddit.com/r/darknetmarkets and reddit.com/r/dnmavengers

Prioritize research and place limited trust in reviews, especially on-market reviews.

Start with mushrooms first, I always grow mine

http://azarius.net/smartshop/magic-mushrooms/grow-kits/mushr...

( Note : You can buy it from different sources online, this is just a link, no affiliation )

Its easy and its rewarding :)

I'd be wary about admitting to such things on a public forum

Its legal ( In the UK at least )

...until April when the (stupid, IMO) psychoactive substances bill will make production (e.g. growing), supply, import or export illegal :(

I wonder how long that monstrous law is going to stay in effect?

I've heard tor black markets are decent way to get that. Safer than asking to strangers depending on where you live. I've also heard getting a test kit is a good idea.

Ask strangers in suitable environments.

Unfortunately it's not that simple. There's a good chance of ending up with some designer drug instead of the real thing. And those are well known to be dangerous.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=dYzmZ1IU4zY

There are testing kits [0] that can help reduce this risk. I'm all about harm reduction!

[0]: https://dancesafe.org/shop/

And where would one find such "suitable" environments? It's not like I can just go to a shady bar and ask around.

A couple suggestions:

http://phish.com/tours/

http://www.widespreadpanic.com/tour

Also, pretty much any large multi-day music festival with a campground, especially reggae. Suppliers are way less discreet at these kind of venues. You'd typically either get lucky and get whatever they say it is, or not and get something that has no effect; chances of something dangerous are low.

A few shady chemicals (NBOMes) have been circulating as LSD and they are dangerous[2], especially when you're expecting LSD but there is a way to be more sure of what you're taking[1]. 1: https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/lsd/lsd_testing3.shtml 2: https://erowid.org/chemicals/2ci_nbome/2ci_nbome_death.shtml

Only one person on this comment page to mention the biggest problem LSD faces today. NBOMes.

Discovered only a few years ago, it's way too new and untested. The effects are not the same as LSD, and reports of negative side effects are common.

Unfortunately they are commonly sold as LSD. Very sad and worrying.

If you're in the Bay Area and ever want to attend a Phish show (or other good jam band), I'd be happy to introduce you to the scene. It's been a life changing experience for me and an integral part of my life for the last 15 years and am always happy to show people around.

Trance party. Psytrance, not Armin van Buuren trance. :)

You can, but you'll have no idea what you're actually getting. It may or may not be LSD, and it may or may not be mixed with something else.

You ideally want to develop a trusted source, probably through someone you know

And yet that's exactly what people do allegedly. Well, it helps to not ask openly around until you trust the other person somewhat (which even means getting to know them for a while).

Get to befriend someone who seems to do?