Echoes of the Future: A Fireside Chat with Mooncat & William Leonard Pickard
Schedule
Sun Mar 23 2025 at 04:00 pm to 07:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
Greenwood Social Hall | Kansas City, MO
Event Details:Date: Sunday, March 23, 2025
Location: Greenwood Social Hall – 1750 Belleview Ave, Kansas City, MO 64108
Admission: Free, using our Set Your Price ticket model (Suggested Donation $25)
Join us on March 23, 2025 at Greenwood Social Hall in Kansas City for an unforgettable evening featuring an intimate fireside chat with our co-founder, Dr. Christine “Mooncat” Ziemer and William Leonard Pickard, one of the most intriguing figures in the world of psychedelics.
Pickard is a former Harvard and UCLA drug policy researcher who, back in 1996, famously predicted the rise of the fentanyl opioid crisis. He later became the central figure in the largest LSD manufacturing case in history —an underground operation so vast that it drew national attention and led to his arrest and two life sentences in prison.
After spending two decades behind bars, Pickard’s life took a dramatic turn when he was given compassionate release in 2020. Now, having regained his freedom, he returns to the public arena with hard-earned wisdom and a story that encapsulates the turbulent evolution of American drug policy.
His journey—from cutting-edge scientific research to clandestine labs, from the depths of incarceration to a second chance at life—offers a unique perspective on the past and future of psychedelics in society.
In this candid fireside chat, Pickard will sit down with our co-founder, Mooncat, to explore thought-provoking topics, including:
Personal Journey: Reflections on his extraordinary path, spanning academia, illicit innovation, and personal transformation.
Drug Policy Evolution: Insights into how drug enforcement and policy have changed from the height of the War on Drugs to today’s emerging psychedelic renaissance.
Future of Psychedelics: A visionary discussion on what lies ahead for psychedelics in medicine, law, and culture — from new research breakthroughs to the challenges of legalization and societal acceptance.
Expect a thought-provoking evening filled with candid insights, historical context, and forward-looking dialogue. Whether you’re curious about the untold history of the psychedelic movement or the possibilities for its future, this conversation with William Leonard Pickard will provide unparalleled insight from someone who has witnessed it from every angle. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to engage with a living legend who has been at the forefront of both scientific foresight and one of America’s most notorious drug sagas.
