This Is Your Mind on Plants

The author calls the categorization of some plants as licit and others as illicit “arbitrary.” What kinds of evidence does he include to support this portrayal? Consider his reflections on American history and include references to the text.

Pollan acknowledges that opiates can be addictive and very harmful when used inappropriately. Explain how different cultures have used this drug and the perceptions they had of the poppy plant, then compare and contrast these examples with that of modern America. Be sure to consider poppies as well as synthetic opiates and include references to the text.

According to Pollan, what effect did coffee and coffeehouses have on European society after being introduced in the 17th century? How was this caffeinated reality different from pre-coffee Europe? Explain.

Pollan claims that tea, another new and important source of caffeine for Europeans in the 17th century onwards, was embraced by English women and therefore feminized. What attracted women to tea and what role did they play in developing a tea culture in Britain?

The author grapples with whether caffeine is beneficial in the long term. What evidence does he use to show that caffeine supports a fast-paced modern society? Does he believe it is equally beneficial for the individual? Explain with references to the text.

While Europeans first experienced coffee and tea through legitimate trade, they soon sought to profit more from the sale of these popular products. Explain how European merchants, governments, and companies ensured that they would benefit from the population’s obsession with coffee and tea. Were their methods symbiotic or exploitative?

Compare and contrast two of Pollan’s three drugs: opium, caffeine, or mescaline. How are they similar and different? What lessons can be learned from how these drugs have been used or abused throughout history? Use detailed examples to support your answer.

Mescaline, a psychedelic drug, can only be legally obtained and ingested by Indigenous Americans in the US in the form of the cactus peyote. How and why were they granted this exception to anti-drug laws? Describe their relationship with this peyote medicine in historic and modern times.