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LSD and other psychedelic drugs are a throwback to the Swinging Sixties, right? Maybe not. Today in The Conversation Canada, Erika Dyck of the University of Saskatchewan explains why some scientists are suggesting the historical reputation of psychedelics as being dangerous “have unfairly overshadowed a more optimistic interpretation.”
As Canada’s dispute with Saudi Arabia continues to fester, David Webster of Bishop’s University looks at another time when Canada stood up to an authoritarian regime over its human rights record. In the 1990s, Canada took a tough stand against Indonesia ruler General Suharto. But that tough stand eventually gave way to political convenience. Will the same thing happen in the Saudi dispute?
And finally, Ontario’s new government under Doug Ford is moving with alacrity on a number of policies – including a plan to allow cannabis to be sold by private retailers. The move goes against the province’s history of trying to control how intoxicants have traditionally been sold.
Regards,
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Scientific pursuits need to be coupled with a humanist tradition — to highlight not just how psychedelics work, but why that matters.
(Shutterstock)
Erika Dyck, University of Saskatchewan
Once associated with mind-control experiments and counter-cultural defiance, psychedelics now show great promise for mental health treatments and may prompt a re-evaluation of the scientific method.
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The leaders of the 18 Asia-Pacific economies pose for a family photo in Vancouver in 1997. Indonesia’s Suharto is sixth from the left. Protests against human rights violations were kept hidden from Suharto during the summit.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
David Webster, Bishop's University
Canada's clashes with Indonesia in the 1990s over human rights abuses contain lessons for the current Canadian-Saudi Arabian diplomatic dispute.
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford arrives for the buck-a-beer plan announcement at Barley Days brewery in Picton, Ont., on Aug. 7, 2018.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg
Dan Malleck, Brock University
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is loosening the province's liquor laws. Before dismantling a system, it's a good idea to know why it was established in the first place.
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Arts
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Dilip Menon, University of the Witwatersrand
Nobel prize winning author Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul was as hard on himself as on others.
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Culture + Society
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Dick Lehr, Boston University
In 1979, David Duke told the media he had launched a wildly successful recruiting drive in Connecticut. A local reporter wanted to test Duke's claims – so he filled out an application to join the KKK.
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Science + Technology
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Marios Chryssanthopoulos, University of Surrey
Bridge engineering does not end when construction finishes and traffic starts to flow.
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