In the 1980s, when U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist (now Chief Justice) was “nodding off” in court—and sending other druggies to prison for their habits—he just kept feeding his “eight-a-day” Placidyl habit. This was the equivalent in dollars, “high,” and mental effect of a $70 to $125 a-day street abuser’s heroin habit.

    Placidyl, a cousin of Quaaludes, is known as a “heavy down,” popular on the streets for imparting a very placid feeling in users.

    The physical dependency and mental effects of using the legal drugs Placidyl, Dilaudad, Quaaludes, et al., are virtually the same as for the reviled barbiturates, opium, morphine, and heroin. In essence, they disturb the body’s “endorphin” (pain-receptors and nullifiers) balance.

    Rehnquist, who was said to have used Placidyl far in excess of normal limits, did not rob liquor stores, physically assault his fellow citizens, or commit any of the anti-social behaviors attributed to “junkies.”

    His habit was easily maintained because the Placidyl was both legally available and within his normal income limits. Placidyl was also well labeled as to purity and frequency of dosage, while persons with outlawed drug habits have to get by on a “dime of tar” (a 10 dollar bag), the purity of which—whether 5% or 95%—is unknown and dangerous estimate. The great majority of drug overdoses are caused by unknown, unregulated, and unlabeled purity factor.

    The government also acknowledges that 90% or more of overdoses by illegal drugs would probably be avoided with accurate labels and appropriate warnings.

the authorized on-line version of Jack Herer’s “The Emperor Wears No Clothes”
text from “The Emperor Wears No Clothes” © Jack Herer
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