Absinthe has hallucinogenic properties
Although historical legends and nineteenth-century literature attribute hallucinogenic and neurotoxic properties to absinthe (coining the syndrome 'absinthism'), modern chemical analyses show that thujone concentrations in traditional and modern absinthes are too low to induce true hallucinations, suggesting that chronic alcoholism and adulterants were the true culprits.
The claim specifies that absinthe has hallucinogenic properties. Historical literature and traditional accounts strongly link absinthe to hallucinations via its active component thujone, supporting the claim (Papers 2 and 9). However, modern analytical and toxicological studies show that thujone levels in both historical and modern absinthe are far too low to cause hallucinogenic effects, and historical 'absinthism' is largely attributed to severe alcoholism, poor distillation practices, or adulterants rather than genuine thujone-induced hallucinations (Papers 9 and 10). Because historical claims clash with modern empirical testing showing insufficient active compound levels, the verdict is CONTESTED.
Albert C Ludolph Herbert H Schaumburg. Absinthe (Wormwood). 2000. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195084771.003.0004
Paper 2 notes that historical accounts associated absinthe consumption with hallucinations and psychosis, contributing to its nineteenth-century ban.
Dirk W Lachenmeier, J Emmert, T Kuballa, G Sartor. Thujone--cause of absinthism?. 2006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2005.04.010
Paper 9 demonstrates that historical and modern absinthes contain very low levels of thujone, suggesting its hallucinogenic potential is low or non-existent.
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Dirk W Lachenmeier, J Emmert, T Kuballa, G Sartor. Thujone--cause of absinthism?. 2006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2005.04.010
Paper 9 notes that historical descriptions of absinthism included hallucinations among chronic abusers.
Dirk W Lachenmeier. Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.)--a curious plant with both neurotoxic and neuroprotective properties?. 2010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2010.05.062
Paper 10 explains that thujone concentrations in absinthe are insufficient to trigger the neurotoxic thresholds historically blamed for absinthism.
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