skjsjsnsnsms

May i ask what the "dark side" was like? No agenda, just genuinely curious.

Sure, which is why erowid recommends having a "trip sitter"

https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/lsd/lsd_death.shtml

Maybe my friends did have some sort of confirmation bias, I don't know. I would describe them as "pro" drug users though, definitely not the type to stigmatize drugs. Regardless, why would a rational person risk their body and mind, of which they only have one, on that assumption? Especially on a drug without a reliable source (assuming you are not a chemist) ...

Straw man argument is made of straw. I'm speaking of word of mouth from informed, trusted friends, not what I heard from those who have an agenda have to say on fox news.

Is there really little downside?

Anecdotally, I've heard from friends in the jamband scene about friends who did LSD who came back "completely changed , and not in a good way."