A global exploration of psychedelic drugs, which have been revered, idealized, vilified, banned, and revived, HSTY 285 will look at their use in contexts ranging from indigenous Native American and African cultures, CIA explorations of “mind control,” 20^th century psychotherapy, the 1960s counter-culture, and the current “psychedelic renaissance. How has historical context influenced the experience of these powerful substances? How have they in turn influenced historical context? We will explore ritual, medicinal, and recreational uses of psychedelics, but will also see how those categories can overlap.