The trees here that used to be used to make ecstacy are a species of sasafrass tree, and when I was a kid I used to chew on sasafrass root and drink sasafrass tea. It was discovered in the 80s or 90s that sasafrass is a carcinogen though, so sasafrass tea is no longer popular in the USA.
Wow, you used to trail running. Once upon a time I lived in Leadville, Colorado, home to a 100-mile footrace that is said to be one of the hardest in the world, at altitudes above 3,500m. I never did any trail running or cross-country stuff, but I've been a hiker/climber/mountaineer for many years, and I'm so glad to have wilderness in my backyard here in Cambodia.