William 'Willy' Myco, a self-styled mycologist and chemist, has posted a video on Halloween 2024 detailing how to synthesize pure LSD from scratch. The tutorial, which attracted nearly 2,500 paying Patreon subscribers, claims to offer the world’s first comprehensive guide. Myco warns viewers that if the final product touches their eyes, skin or mouth, they should plan for a month of incapacitation.

Myco has been posting how-to videos on various psychedelic substances since 2014, including psilocybin mushrooms and mescaline from cacti. His YouTube channel, 'Willy’s World,' was taken down by YouTube after WIRED reached out for comment. Following Patreon's removal of his account due to violations, Myco hopes to appeal the decision.

The video has reignited debates about the democratization of psychedelic knowledge and self-sufficiency in drug production. Critics question the science behind some of his claims and worry about the potential harms of such information being widely accessible online.

Myco’s journey began with a transformative DMT experience in 2002, which led him to quit a pharmaceutical job and dedicate himself to educating others on psychedelic compounds. Despite his efforts, both platforms have deemed some of his content too risky for public consumption.