Hitler supposedly was given IV METH injections daily, no wonder head all that potential then crashed and burned
He was indeed - beginning when the battle of Stalingrad was going Stalin's way, and ending with his suicide in 1945. On the plus side, the battle of Britain was as much won with Benzedrine as it was with Spitfires, pilots were just too exhausted to cope day after day. Strange then, I thought, that I, as a long term Dexedrine user, am not apparently allowed to drive under UK law. I of course have no respect for the law whatsoever, and never had an accident or commited any motoring offence (that was seen, ahem!). During more than twenty years being 'an evil drug addict' (officially), during which I took almost four times my own (substantial) bodyweight in pure amphetamine sulphate, and not only drove, but serviced, maintained, rebuilt and welded up motor vehicles with no ill effects, I wistfully fantasised about how I would defend myself in Court, were I ever prosecuted for 'DUI - amphetamines'....
Me: "So, why is that taking amphetamines and driving is an offence?"
CPS (imperious and indignant) "Because it is against the Law!"
Me: "Quite so... but WHY is it against the Law?"
CPS "It is...(shuffles papers)... aha! Specifically prohibited by the (blah blah, legal details irrelevant)"
Me: "Thank you - I'm sure you are correct. And this law was no doubt introduced to improve road safety?"
CPS "Of course it was!"
Me: "A very worthy and necessary law indeed... the road can be a very dangerous place even when sober, do you agree?"
CPS "Most certainly, thousands are killed every year on our roads..."
Me: "No doubt, so we don't want the lives of motorists and pedestrians endangered by intoxicated drivers, do we?"
CPS "No we do not! Hence the law!"
Me: (grave nod) "So, presumably the intoxicant in question, to wit 'amphetamine' has never been allowed for anyone engaged in driving a motor vehicle on the highway?"
CPS "Um... not until the law came into operation as far as I am aware, no..."
Me: "Ah, I see - so it was not invented, or used, before that time?"
CPS "Er... I believe it was... MY Lord, is this lineof questioning leading anywhere?"
Me: "I pray the Court's indulgence, this won't take much longer, or interfere with luncheon?" (A nod from the beak)
Me: "When was amphetamine invented?" (A bewiildered shrug from the prosecution) "I will inform you then - it was before the turn of the last century, in Victorian times. And the effects have been well known since king George V was crowned. Yet this apparently dangerous intoxicant was freely available to all, and widely prescribed since the 1930's. Tell me, how dangerously does it affect the judgement - and why was it only banned for driving a few years ago?"
CPS "I'm not sure, but if it wasn't dangerous there would be no law against it!"
Me: "I believe it is well known this substance increases wakefullness, aids concentration, and improves endurance... do you agree?"
CPS "I believe so, but it is illegal!"
Me: "Would you say that this dangerous intoxicant was the sort of thing suitable for, say, the pilot of an aeroplane to take?"
CPS "Um...."
Me: "A young, inexperienced fighter pilot say, in a combat zone?"
CPS "Er....."
Me: " For the edification of the jury, amphetamine was routinely issued to the hard pressed pilots of the Royal Air Force, during the battle of Britain... and *orderered* to be taken by bomber crews on long missions over Germany in the 1940's... these are facts. Do you consider the Air Ministry would endanger the lives of its aircrews by issuing them with a dangerous intoxicant?"
CPS "Um... no, but...."
Me: "But this allegedly dangerous drug, safe to take by pilots in combat situations, is too dangerous for someone to take during, say, a three mile journey on the North Circular Road, on a Tuesday afternoon?" Hooks thumbs into braces, and turns to the Judge. "That is my case M'Lud!"
Sadly, in the real world I would be shut up long before I had any chance to huliliate the prosecution, and there would be no jury! Even so, one can still DREAM of justice?