Psychedelics are far more closely tied with the history of human civilization than most people realize. From Indigenous medicinal traditions to the henbane tea supposedly used by Viking berserkers , they've played an important cultural role in countless societies. Unfortunately, that changed in the late 1930s.
That was when one Albert Hoffman invented a new psychedelic drug known as LSD — an event that brought about an aggressive, fear-based campaign that culminated in psychedelics being made illegal .
Flash forward to today, and there's a growing body of research indicating that not only are the harmful effects of psychedelics largely overblown , but they also have significant potential benefits in the treatment of several mental health disorders. This, in turn, has resulted in their decriminalization — and in some cases, legalization — by several states.
For further details see:
The Current Legal Status of Psychedelics in the United States