Hamilton's Pharmacopeia

Hamilton's Pharmacopeia is an American docuseries, which premiered on Viceland on October 26, 2016. The show follows Hamilton Morris as he explores the history, chemistry, and societal impact of psychoactive substances. It chronicles Morris' travels and first-hand experiences, as well as interviews with scientists, shamans, and fringe culture figures.^[1][2]

Background

Hamilton Morris, son of Oscar-winning documentarian Errol Morris, began writing for the print magazine VICE while he was still a sophomore at The New School. His first article, under the pseudonym D.H. Ticklish, reported on emerging psychoactive drugs. After publishing a second article, about young Hasidic men converting to rituals with psychedelics, Morris started a column called Hamilton's Pharmacopeia. This evolved into an identically titled webseries on VBS.tv, which developed into the television program for Viceland.^[3][4]

Morris' unique qualifications include studies under psychedelics expert Nicolas Langlitz at The New School and scientific publications as a pharmacology researcher at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. He works as a contributor to Harper's Magazine and National Geographic TV, as a correspondent for VICE on HBO, and as a science editor for VICE Magazine.^[5][6]

Morris publicly advocates psychonaut interests, following in the footsteps of drug developer and self-tester Alexander Shulgin, who authored the seminal text on phenethylamines, a class of drugs including MDMA. His scholarly approach also incorporates what he calls "ethno-chemistry," an anthropological exploration of the cultural matrix that influences drug use.^[7]

Episodes

See also

• List of programs broadcast by Viceland

References