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50.
CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY DRUG DISPLAY BOX.
An original chart display box made “for the Official use of Law Enforcement Agencies” in California identifying specimens of hypnotic and stimulant drugs. SF/LA: Department of Professional & Vocational Standards, no date (c. 1955). Pale blue printed card package fastened by staples to verso. 21.5x27x0.8cm.
The display features 27 small window compartments containing 1, 2 or 3 (dummy) pills, each one made to “resemble as closely as possible the actual drugs named”. The pills are identified below each window, several of them with their slang synonyms, including Nembutal (Yellow-Jackets), Seconal (Red Birds), Sodium Amytal (Green Dragons), Tuinal (Rainbows), Cyclopal (Brownies), Sodium Ortal (Violets), as well as the stimulants Amphetamine, Dexedrine and Benzedrine.
A statement printed along the lower edge states: “In general, the hypnotic and stimulant drugs defined in Div. 22 H & S. Code of Calif. are subject to the same controls as narcotic drugs but crimes pertaining to the former are classed as misdemeanors. The above specimens constitute only a few of the many forms to be found.”
The rear panel prints excerpts from the Health and Safety Code relating to the Dangerous Drugs Act, as well as from the Vehicle Code, State of California (“Driving When Addicted to or Under Influence of Narcotics or other Drugs”).
Blue card slightly faded, with small circular ‘sweat’ mark to lower right corner, o/w Very Good plus. Name, probably that of a law enforcement officer (O’Meara), in red pencil to upper right corner of verso.
