"Precision" refers to getting the same amount of liquid each time, whether or not it is the actual desired amount. So the dropper in the example is not precise, but it is accurate.

Ideally, we would want our dose of LSD to always be the exact dose we want. In other words, in our case we want every drop to be exactly 0.05 ml; a drop that is both accurate and precise.

If the LSD solution were correctly prepared, so that each 0.05 ml drop contained 150 ug of LSD, the dose of LSD would also then be exactly what we want (and be both accurately and precisely dosed).

Getting the "Right" Dose

In a perfect world, we would get the exactly correct dose every time, with the LSD solution having the correct concentration and the dosing method (e.g., a dropper bottle) dispensing the correct amount of liquid.

Unless one either: (i) has crystal LSD and makes the solution themselves, (ii) buys from a source that is both highly competent and honest, or (iii) or one has access to sophisticated laboratory testing to determine the concentration of LSD in the solvent, it is not possible to calculate the exact concentration of the liquid LSD.

In other words, we can not calculate an accurate dose, because without knowing an accurate concentration we can never know how much LSD is in any dose. And that turns out that's totally fine...

We probably won't know how much LSD is in a dose and therefore we won't have an "accurate" dose (or at a minimum will have no way to know whether we have an accurate dose). However, we can have a "precise" dose every time by using liquid LSD of a consistent (but unknown) concentration and measuring the identical volume of liquid for each dose every time.

While we may not know what the actual dose is, we can take the identical dose every time. Or we can increase the dose by a percentage and know how much we are taking relative to the other times we took it. This, it turns out, is plenty of information. Simply imagine a world where you had one very large bottle of LSD, and you had never even heard of mics/ug’s. You would simply talk about doses as “a half a drop”, “one drop”, “two drops”, etc. And this would be all the information you’d need. If you knew how strong an experience you’d have with “one drop”, you wouldn’t care how many ug were in the drop. So the best way to get an “accurate” dose, is to have a significant supply of LSD, and store it so it does not degrade. The second best way to gauge doses is to have a single supplier who is skilled at dosing.

Thoughts About LSD Dosing

Erowid and other sources provide the following guidance on doses:

Light Dose: 20 - 75 ug

Common Dose: 50 - 150 ug

Strong Dose: 150 - 400 ug

Heavy Dose: 400 + ug

The ranges are very broad, and the descriptions very vague. It just gives the most basic of information. A starting point for a new user, but otherwise not very useful. However, once a user has taken a precisely measured trip, they have established a "baseline trip". They have no idea of the actual amount of LSD they have ingested, only the actual volume of liquid they have ingested. They can then adjust dose higher or lower to obtain a more or less intense LSD effect.

One need never know how much LSD is actually ingested, and instead only know that the dose is the same as the baseline, 10% higher than the baseline, 20% lower, etc. So with precise measurements, one gets all the information they need. The actual amount of LSD ingested is essentially irrelevant after the first time. Only the amount taken versus other trips in the critical information.

We have prepared this article on the phases/stages of an LSD trip, which also includes a more detailed description of the effects of different doses. This article has been vetted on every major message board, and comments from literally hundreds of users have been incorporated. It is re-submitted every year on Reddit for public comment (the past few years it has received almost universal approval for being accurate, with few suggested changes. And therefore we believe it to be the best guide available on LSD doses and the stages of an acid trip.

So now all is needed for precise dosing is having a consistent LSD concentration and then measuring the liquid dose with precision.

Consistent LSD Concentration

There are two ways to have LSD of a consistent concentration when obtaining liquid LSD. First, one can purchase a larger quantity of liquid LSD and do everything possible to avoid degradation over time. Second, one can find a reliable source for liquid LSD and confirm with the source that the methodology for creating the LSD solution does not change over time.

Each approach has pros and cons, but either can be effective. We believe that properly stored liquid LSD does not demonstrate substantial degradation even over substantial periods of time. There is a debate over what temperature to store liquid LSD at, including whether to freeze it. However, we believe that liquid LSD, stored in the dark in a glass bottle at room temperature will not show notable degradation over many years. We are aware of a user having stored a bottle for over five years for the sole purpose of determining degradation, and has seen no notable change in efficacy over this period. This person believes in purchasing larger quantities of liquid LSD, and store it. It is important to understand the legal implications, however, of possessing a significant number of doses. In Oregon, for example, you may possess forty "units" of LSD to qualify for the "decriminalization" laws.

Measuring a Precise Dose