. 
> as a result of his very educated and somewhat special
> background as a Hebrew scholar* and not necessarily because
> of his age. Meaning a very bright and spiritual young man or
> woman might have very moving visions as well.>>>>>>>>

I think that is a very valid point, but I also think that age does matter in many ways. Practicing magic at a deep level changes you profoundly, not only psychologically but also physically over a long period of time. 

Examples of this is often occur when an experienced magical practitioner has homeopathic or cranial osteopathic treatment: the patient does not respond to treatment in the same way. The treatment approach has to be changed to accommodate the physical variances that magic can effect upon a body over a period of time.

Then you must take into account how the endocrine system comes into play when a person practices magic over a long period of time. The hormone variation over a 20 year span in someones life will change how the body responds to power. So for example a young vigorous person is going to have different body reactions to power than a person in their 40's will. This in turn dictates what sort of magic they can aspire to and what substances will do what to a body and mind.

When practicing visionary magic over a long period of time, the mind and imagination become finely tuned to a point where using substances that change the consciousness become counter productive in that they are a weaker version of what you can do naturally (if you have natural vision). 

When practicing ritual magic over a long period of time, the structure of the body changes to accommodate the externalization of power through action. Therefore the imagination is not heavily used. Under such circumstances hallucinogenics are counter productive: you have trained the body to work in magic, not the mind... so pushing the mind into magical realms via drugs doesn't make any sense... and will be potentially damaging to the consciousness. 

The drug can also open up parts of the consciousness that you dont want opening while doing particular inner work: such a drug use could potentially leave the practitioner at risk from an inner point of view.

To that point, Shamanic cultures would use said substances in a magical way  when a practitioner, without natural vision, needed to move from one world/mode of consciousness to another. A set discipline and ritual of working would ensure that the substance was approached in the right way.

This is very different form sitting in an apartment after reading a few magic books and dropping a couple of acid tabs. Doesnt matter how brilliant a young mind is, if the reason, inner structure,  discipline, physical strength and endocrine maturity is not there, then it is just a trip with all its inherent risks.

JC