Until it was banned in many countries by Prohibition Movements in the early 20th century, absinthe was an extremely popular alcoholic drink among artists, writers, and others. Especially in France were it was wildly popular, many preferred absinthe to other forms of alcohol. For over one hundred years, however, absinthe has been popularly considered a hallucinogenic drug which explains why many countries continue to ban it even while allowing other types of alcohol. Is absinthe really hallucinogenic? Can we blame the erratic behavior of artists like Vincent van Gogh and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec on this dangerous form of alcohol? In a word, no.
While it is true that absinthe contains a neurotoxin known as thujone, this chemical is not responsible for any hallucinogenic properties that absinthe may or may not possess. Recent studies have shown that historic absinthe contained much less thujone than was previously believed. If absinthe indeed has any hallucinogenic properties beyond those of regular alcohol, it is not the result of the thujone. Even before countries started regulating thujone levels, one would have died of alcohol poisoning long before the thujone would have had any effect on the body. It is unclear whether chronic absinthe abuse has any additional adverse effects than regular alcoholism, but it is unlikely that these would be responsible for the suicides and murders that are attributed to those who have consumed absinthe.
The revelation that absinthe is not actually as dangerous as had been previously thought is a fairly new discovery. Just since the 1990s, many countries around the world are allowing manufacturers to renew absinthe production. They may require that it be named something else, or that its thujone levels not reach above a certain point, but few countries today enforce any bans they have on its production and sale. Its reputation remains, however, which is why most countries at least retain unenforced bans on it. Interestingly, it is absinthe producers themselves who have become the most vocal in their warnings about the dangers of absinthe use. In an effort to sell bottles to those who WISH to experience absinthe's supposed hallucinogenic properties, many absinthe distributors play up its "danger" and post how much thujone their version contains. Some distributors even sell "high thujone" varieties to people looking for a high.
Although it probably did not have the physical and psychological effects that are attributed to it, it certainly had a cultural impact. During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was popular among Bohemian artists and the bourgeoisie of France. Many artists, including Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec enjoyed it and the absinthe culture influenced writers like Ernest Hemingway and artists like Pablo Picasso. That culture, which included rituals about how one prepared it and depictions of the "Green Fairy" continues to influence today as was featured most recently in 2001's Moulin Rouge!
