Susi’s Tram Ride: Recognizing the First Woman to Take LSD 5

On June 12, 1943, 22-year-old Susi Ramstein became the first woman to take LSD. Although she was also the youngest person yet to have tried it, she took 100 micrograms, a larger dose than Dr. Hofmann’s male colleagues.

She found the experience enjoyable, and the effects pleasant. After her first experiment in the lab, she took the tram home, finding the appearance of the passengers and the long-nosed conductor to be comical. Susi discussed her ideas about the experience with her colleagues at Sandoz. Her insights helped to determine dosage levels for the medical use of LSD. She also took some of the LSD variants that Dr. Hofmann synthesized, dihydro-LSD and d-Iso-LSD, which seemed to be less psychoactive. About a year after her last LSD experience, she left Sandoz to marry, but she had already left her mark on the history of psychedelics.

Thinking about Susi’s experiences at the advent of LSD takes a little guess work, piecing together details from Dr. Hofmann and a few other close-hand accounts of that time. It is fascinating what a young Susi Ramstein might have thought as she pedaled beside her tripping boss; as it is, we know that she was an extremely helpful and observant companion/attendant. It is regrettable that we do not have a fuller first-hand account of Susi’s own LSD experiences or of her subsequent experiments with other substances. Even with the few available details, we can catch a slight glimpse of this highly curious, intelligent, and courageous young woman.

Susi Ramstein Weber, the first psychedelic guide, and the first woman to take LSD, died in the fall of 2011, several years after the death of Dr. Hofmann. As is true of much of the earliest history of LSD, accidents of timing and circumstance played a role in the way that her participation and her contributions are remembered and valued. Now that April 19, “Bicycle Day” has become a well-known and joyously celebrated holiday for psychonauts, let us also remember and celebrate June 12, the date when the courage, heart, and brains of this young woman entered the annals of psychedelic history.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tram-day-a-celebration-with-the-chalice-the-womens-visionary-council-tickets-820759673277

Women’s Visionary Congress: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future

Since 2007, the Women’s Visionary Congress (WVC) has been amplifying the voices of women in the psychedelic movement—healers, researchers, activists, artists, and spiritual leaders—who for too long were not being heard. Rooted in intergenerational collaboration and community, WVC provides a space for connection, storytelling, and transformation. In this sizzle reel, you’ll hear from those who […]

Published February 10, 2025

By Nancy Winslow

2024 Giving Tuesday

The 2024 Giving Tuesday on December 3 could make a meaningful impact on the future of the Women’s Visionary Council (WVC). We have been a nonprofit organization since 2008 supported by donors like you. You can make a tax-exempt donation to the WVC at any time via Paypal through Every.org or by sending a check […]

Published November 26, 2024

By Annie Oak

The WVC Creates New Holiday to Honor Susi Ramstein the First Woman To Take LSD

On Wednesday, June 12, from 7-9 pm, the Women’s Visionary Council will partner with the Chalice and special guest Susanne Seiler to celebrate Tram Day at the Berkeley Alembic. This new holiday honors Susi Ramstein, Dr. Albert Hofmann’s laboratory assistant. Susi became the first LSD guide after accompanying Dr. Hofmann on his famous bicycle ride. […]

Published June 10, 2024

By Kristina Soriano

Introducing The Chalice

The Chalice is a new monthly psychedelic salon held at the Berkeley Alembic. At a time of relentless hype, bitter turf wars, and crass commodification, the very identity of psychedelic plants and substances is up for grabs. Instead of the mainstream focus on clinical trials, legal frameworks, and psychotherapy, The Chalice will draw from the […]

Published February 9, 2024

By Annie Oak

An End Of The Year Greeting

Dear Friends and Advocates, This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to make a meaningful impact by supporting the Women’s Visionary Council (WVC) in our work assisting psychedelic elders, which involves honoring their knowledge, supporting their work, and ensuring their contributions continue to benefit us all. Your generosity can help us continue to honor and preserve […]

Published November 28, 2023

By Annie Oak