To the Editor:—
David R. Rubin MD, (201:143, 1967) described some of the effects, techniques of use, and lack of legal control of two hallucinogenic substances, dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and diethyltryptamine (DET).Some comments are in order. On May 27, 1966, former Governor Brown approved an amendment to Section 11901 of the California Health and Safety Code which added LSD, DMT, and their salts and derivatives to the list of "restricted dangerous drugs." The provision that "derivatives" of DMT were included might be interpreted as restricting DET as well.Dr. Rubin indicates that DMT and DET are not effective unless injected intramuscularly or intravenously. In fact, a common way of using these substances is to add one of them to a regular tobacco or marijuana cigarette. As he indicated, the effect, whether by injection or inhalation, is prompt and profound but relatively short in duration. Whether because of some differences