Hamilton's Pharmacopeia

I have been a big fan of Hamiltons fathers documentaries for a long time. Errol Morris has been creating some of the most fascinating American documentaries since the late 70's. So, I was very happy when I found out his son Hamilton, was carrying on the family tradition.

These episodes are not only about the drugs and their effects on the body, but the cultures in which they are used. He goes to great extents, traveling internationally, to cover his substance and its roots in human culture in detail.

Each season seems to get a little better production quality wise, as he continues to track down the forefathers of the users of these substances, and interviews some really interesting individuals in the history of science, psychedelia and such like.

Then there is the production of the drugs side of things, where he meets chemists from various backgrounds, and breaks down in detail how they make the drugs. Some of them are high level chemists working on cutting edge research, too the undergound hippy or criminal org's, producing for the black market.

The series have all the hallmarks of quality documentary film making. You will be hard pushed to find anything else better researched, or as informative on the subject.

My main reason for writing this review is to persuade anyone who is doubting watching this show due to the stigma that is associated with the use of psychoactive drugs. It's an amazing show with a deep message that should not be ignored. It shows the culture, works to understand rather than promote society's one-sided message. Alcohol and cigarettes are more dangerous than half these drugs and ARE LEGAL, and neither give you profound insight into yourself and the environment around you. Getting into a damn car can be more dangerous if your not RESPONSIBLE. any one who is opposed to the use of these drugs should also be opposed to doing anything more dangerous, but they aren't, and only because they're scared, afraid of letting go and accepting that there might be something outside the box they live in, so they deem it insane. please strive to find your own meaning, open your mind, and live your life because it will fade but the present is were you'll find meaning!

These are not episodes full of rehashed facts you already knew, rather often revealing about things that you didn't know that you didn't even know. Most episodes feel like coming along for a journey with the host in the spirit of discovery. Best documentary series thus far on the subject.

Very well done non-biased documentaries about drugs. I absolutely love Hamilton Morris!

This is a must watch especially since most people have consumed anti-drug propaganda their whole lives and don't have an accurate understanding of them or the culture around them.

If I were rating each season they'd each get a 10/10, but season 3 is on another level. The amount of love and care given to each of these episodes is astounding. Hamilton is out there speaking to real people in their own language, enlightening me on things I didn't even know existed. It is a serious (usually) take on what this stuff is and what it does. These are world-class experts in a variety of fields telling you what they think. I can't show enough love to Hamilton for getting real information out there.