The law technically bans absinthe with high thujone. But since 2007, the US has allowed “thujone-free” absinthe (under 10 ppm). That’s like saying “alcohol-free beer” that has 0.5% ABV—it’s practically the same thing.
Absinthe: How the Green Fairy became literature’s drink - BBC Culture
But here’s the jargon twist: The FDA still says real absinthe (with traditional wormwood) is “unsafe.” Translation: they’d rather you drink Everclear than admit they overreacted for 90 years. Classic government cover-up.
The Surprising Truth
If you try to get “high” on modern legal absinthe, you’ll just get a headache and a mediocre buzz. The real “hallucination” was the myth that absinthe caused absinthism—a fake disease invented by wine lobbyists.
Surprising fact: Van Gogh’s missing ear? Not absinthe’s fault. He had bipolar disorder and a fight with Gauguin. The green drink was just a scapegoat, like how we blame “the devil’s lettuce” for couch cushions eating your remote.
