While I'm open to the idea that breakthroughs can come from unorthodox places, I don't think that Mullis is the best example. My highschool biology teacher had some negative opinions about the guy and claimed that it was an open secret that you do not invite him to speak at events, noble price not withstanding.
So, I looked him up. If anything my biology teacher was being polite.
EDIT: My opinion is that this is a case of a broken clock being right twice a day. The second article talks about his PCR breakthrough. It sounds like he was clever and lucky. But based on what else he seemed to have believed, I really don't think we should take his word on the LSD being the key.
I agree he's a terrible person but it is a good example of where drugs helped in discovery. The key point IMO is that he may not have discovered or invented PCR without drugs. But PCR would have been invented one way or another.
On a separate note, I find your main argument not at all helpful to the current thread. Terrible people can create and do amazing things. But it's still an a good example.
So, I looked him up. If anything my biology teacher was being polite.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kary_Mullis#Views_on_HIV/AIDS_...
https://alumni.berkeley.edu/california-magazine/winter-2019/...
EDIT: My opinion is that this is a case of a broken clock being right twice a day. The second article talks about his PCR breakthrough. It sounds like he was clever and lucky. But based on what else he seemed to have believed, I really don't think we should take his word on the LSD being the key.