Director Pat Murphy does a reasonable job given the staggering challenges of getting down, in all of one hour, the history of psychedelic drugs (including their centuries-old ceremonial uses), the invention of LSD, the explosion of LSD in the West, the opposing or at least opposed forces of Ken Kesey and Timothy Leary, the vilification of hallucinogens under Nixon, and the very promising therapeutic applications of such drugs.
Each of the aforementioned subjects could take up at least one hour. I was familiar with LSD "scare films" shown to wide-eyed teens in the '60s and 70s; and some of the government study films showing folks actually on LSD.
The crucial point here, though, shouldn't be overlooked: Hallucinogens are back, they're taken seriously again by the medical world, and they just might be able to cure alcoholism, other kinds of addiction, and other serious mental disorders. Fortunately, we live in an age where you can, with a few clicks, further research for yourself. And you should.
The only drawback to this film, or any film, is that it can't bring you into the transcendence, the enormity, of the psychedelic experience. For that, it's still a solid break down the middle between those who haven't and have, taken off into that aether. Highly recommended. Aud: P, H, C.