The era was not nearly so drug sodden as the Hollywood image that has been built for it. The drugs were also very weak compared to what they are now. You could puff happily all night for what a couple of hits will do you for now.

Yes, there were "events" that were drugged out, but they were few enough to be legendary.

Yes, there were "drug abusers", and I knew some, but just about all of them have died of heart ailments, and at the time they weren't peace freaks, they were paranoid as hell.

It was drugs that did in the "flower children" - the influx of heavy druggies was dark and criminal and the "children" pulled back out of the line of fire.

Yes, I was there, at the peak, in the Fairfax (which was soon returned to the Jewish community), hob-knobing with the likes of Ronnie Cobb (once famous political cartoonist, later designer of Alien).

It was a very fun time, and I miss it lots, but I know a few pockets that remain, and I intend to return there from this computer crap - soon I hope.