To my surprise I found absinthe on the drink menu at a restaurant I had dinner at last week. The owner came out and explained that it’s not illegal in the US, and it does not make you get that giddy-warm-hallucinogenic feeling that makes it so mysterious and sought after. I’m pretty sure he said that certain ingredients were taken out to make it legal in the US. He also said that “Lucid” absinthe was on the low end of the absinthe spectrum. Still I don’t know if he’s right- that Lucid is genuine absinthe or not. Two shots cost me $20 (not terribly expensive) and I was out for the count after those shots. I suggest you forgo what is legal in the US and look on the Internet for a bottle. My brother bought a $200 bottle online and he thoroughly enjoyed himself. One more thing: that restaurant owner said that absinthe is so high in alcohol content that people often think they are hallucinating when in fact that are just really drunk. Enjoy your experience, whether it’s through the internet or at a US liquor store (where the brand Lucid can be purchased).