Forensic identification of LSD typically relies on the Ehrlich spot test, which is nonspecific and cannot distinguish LSD from the uncontrolled substance 9,10-dihydro-LSD, recently found in Brazilian blotters. This work used easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS) to characterize LSD and 9,10-dihydro-LSD directly from blotter surfaces. Of 41 blotters analyzed by EASI-MS, 28 tested positive for LSD, seven for 9,10-dihydro-LSD, and six for neither. Results were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Combining thin-layer chromatography with EASI-MS proved a simple, powerful screening tool for forensic drug analysis.
Ayahuasca, a tea made from the Jagube vine and Chacrona leaves, is a ritual hallucinogen used by Brazilian religious traditions such as Santo Daime, Barquinha, and União do Vegetal. It contains N,N-dimethyltryptamine, a prohibited psychotropic substance under Brazilian law, yet its religious use was recognized by CONAD in 2004 and ratified in 2010. Despite this, prejudiced and unscientific positions have emerged. This work systematizes anthropological, pharmacological, and legal knowledge about the tea to contribute to the discussion.