James P. Cassidy

While watching a football game, a holder fumbled a field goal attempt and I imagine why in the song “The Holder Couldn’t Hold It.” Being the bad guy in a Clint Eastwood movie means you’re going to get shot and killed by Clint, which became the song “Dirty Harry Blues.” And an innocuous remark by Ryan Reynolds on a film set became the fastest song I ever wrote, called “How ‘Bout We Take Our Pants Off and Relax?”

Mescaline, LSD, and psilocybin mushrooms. There’s been a lot of discussion in the medical world lately about the potential benefits of these and other drugs for certain medical conditions, such as anxiety and depression. As we consider the place of psychedelics in the future, we can draw insight and guidance from the history of how psychedelics have been described, sought after, applied, and prohibited over the centuries. Erika Dyck, professor of history at the University of Saskatchewan, introduces you to the world of hallucinogens.