The need for a multidisciplinary approach to psychedelics – Hamilton Morris interview (Finnish subs)

Why is it important to research and describe the effects of psychoactive substances from many different points of view? Known to the public through his chemistry and anthropology series Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia, Hamilton Morris operates as both a researcher and a documentarist. His series discusses psychoactive substances from a research perspective but also from the perspective of people who use them outside research contexts. Morris is an atypical researcher in the sense that the series also documents his own experiences with the substances he researches – though in the history of medicine, such self-experimentation has a long tradition.

In our newly published interview was carried out at Breaking Convention 2019 in London, Morris talks about his work and goals. He is interested in all kinds of substances but finds psychedelics especially interesting due to their extraordinary effects and rich history. On a personal level, he describes himself as a somewhat cynical atheist and materialist for whom psychedelics may be the only pathway to experiences that are usually defined as religious.

In the interview, Morris also discusses the modes of action of psychedelics and reflects on the chasm between experience and brain activity. He also talks about the impact of chemist Alexander Shulgin – known for discovering a wide variety of psychedelics – on his work, and argues that psychedelic therapy research is just one of the many interesting approaches to the effects of psychedelics. He does consider such research important, but would also like to see more focus on mapping out completely novel applications for psychedelics.

Morris’s show occasionally receives criticism for offering a platform to people who might not be the most convincing representatives for psychedelics. Morris comments on this by saying that he finds it important to paint an honest picture: psychedelics are used in all kinds of contexts by all kinds of people, and it is quite true that not all of these people act in ways that help dispel taboos about the therapeutic uses of psychedelics. Instead of sweeping this reality under the rug, we must learn to deal with it as psychedelics become more mainstream.

Finnish subtitles are available from the YouTube menu.

• • • • •

The Finnish Association for Psychedelic Research is a multidisciplinary association founded in December 2016 with the goals of promoting scientific research related to psychedelics and the availability of accessible information based on such research.

Interview by Henry Soinnunmaa.

More on Psyty: https://psyty.fi

Our social media channels:
http://facebook.com/psyty
http://twitter.com/psytyfi
http://instagram.com/psyty
http://youtube.com/psyty

Видео The need for a multidisciplinary approach to psychedelics – Hamilton Morris interview (Finnish subs) канала Psykedeelitutkimusyhdistys ry