This was an incredibly preachy episode consisting almost entirely of an argument between Joe Friday and Brother William about the legitimacy of LSD. Friday was, of course, anti-drug use, while Brother William was pro-drug use.
While being a kid in the 60's, I have heard these arguments a million times, this was aired in 1968, when these arguments were still an everyday occurrence of national importance.
Perhaps prophetically, this and other episodes claimed marijuana would be legalized (correctly) and LSD would be, too (hasn't happened). Legalization is also taking longer than the writers predicted. Much longer.
Perhaps the most disturbing thing to me is that at the end Frank Gannon (Harry Morgan) crumpled up a sheet of paper and threw it in the street. That's littering, Frank!! :)
Also, unlike most other episodes where a crime is investigated and the sentence is handed down at the end, they just made up a crime and tacked it on the end during the wrap-up. No crime was committed during the actual episode.
While being a kid in the 60's, I have heard these arguments a million times, this was aired in 1968, when these arguments were still an everyday occurrence of national importance.
Perhaps prophetically, this and other episodes claimed marijuana would be legalized (correctly) and LSD would be, too (hasn't happened). Legalization is also taking longer than the writers predicted. Much longer.
Perhaps the most disturbing thing to me is that at the end Frank Gannon (Harry Morgan) crumpled up a sheet of paper and threw it in the street. That's littering, Frank!! :)
Also, unlike most other episodes where a crime is investigated and the sentence is handed down at the end, they just made up a crime and tacked it on the end during the wrap-up. No crime was committed during the actual episode.