William Leonard Pickard
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William Leonard Pickard (b. 1945) John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, M.P.P., Regent's College, B.S. Chemistry
Former Deputy Director, Drug Policy Analysis Program, UCLA; Research Associate, Harvard Medical School, Division on Addictions; Harpel Fellow in Drug Policy, Harvard University Interfaculty Program on Drugs and Addictions; Areas of Interest: "Future and Emerging Drugs", Drug Incidence in the Former Soviet Union, Control of Chemical Weapons Affecting Cognition, Policy Implications of Advances in Drug Design.
Currently appealing 2000 conviction and two life sentences for conspiracy to manufacture LSD at a converted Atlas-E nuclear missile launch facility in Kansas. Pickard denied the charges, stating he was investigating the emerging use of ayahuasca and DMT analogues. The government informant and principal witness at trial, Gordon Todd Skinner, was arrested a few months after Pickard's trial, and convicted for distribution of MDMA at the Burning Man festival in Reno, Nevada. Skinner was also charged with the interstate kidnapping and torture of an 18 year-old man.
After his arrest, a US Government press release alleged that 91 pounds of LSD had been seized in the case. Several newspapers reported this number, however further investigation and government testimony seems to indicate that this number is inaccurate and the real amount may have been as little as one half pound of pure LSD, still enough to manufacture about 10 million individual 20-microgram "hits".
"Refuting the previous posting Pickard states that he does not know the actor Harvey Fierstein, has never hosted raves, was not present at any heroin overdose incident."
For more information follow the link to FreePickard.org, and correspondence is invited to William Leonard Pickard at POB 5500, Adelanto, CA 92301
External links
- Washington Times article on arrest (http://washingtontimes.com/national/20031126-110958-8471r.htm)
- DEA press release describing case (http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/sanfran112403.html)
- Free Pickard website (http://www.freepickard.org/)
- Slate Article on inaccurate seizure amounts (http://slate.msn.com/id/2114793/)
- Book about Pickard Case (http://www.lysergicbook.com/)