BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY

Canada, US, 2021, 88 min

If it weren’t for the hypocrisy of drug prohibition, everyone would know these names: Sasha Shulgin (1925 – 2014) was a chemist who discovered nearly 200 psychedelic substances, including MDMA and 2CB. His wife and co-author, Ann Shulgin (b. 1931-2022), is a lay therapist and a pioneer in the field of psychedelic psychotherapy. Sasha’s revolutionary approach and scientific expertise established a gold standard in psychedelic research, but it was Ann’s skills with people and words that spread these ideas to the wider culture. This is the story of how Ann met Sasha, and how the chemistry they created has given humanity a chance to evolve.