From the book: The Almost Unpublish Lenny Bruce.
Lenny Bruce should be a hero to every fan of comedy and every pothead everywhere. An inspiration to George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Tommy Chong, and just about every decent comedian since.
Lenny was one of the first advocates of marijuana legalization and one of the great unrecognized martyrs in the fight for free speech. He often spoke out about the absurdity of keeping marijuana illegal in his shows. For his views on reefer and other anti-government opinions, along with his incredible use of profanity, Lenny was continuous tormented by government authorities for years, pushing him to harder drugs to cope. Lenny died of an overdose in 1966. Playboy ran an obituary: "One last four-letter word for Lenny: Dead. At forty. That's obscene."
This skit, written sometime before his death, points to the hypocrisy of banning pot while at the same time allowing and even encouraging mind-altering pills as long as they are recommended or prescribed by a doctor... the man was forty years ahead of all of us.
Note: This was copied directly from the book without permission and for that, I apologize.
Jury Deliberation
(The State requestsmaximum sentence for the accused, charged with possession of marijuana.)
PUBLIC DEFENDER
Your Honor, I make a motion that the Prosecutor’s statement, “Was involved and did encourage others to partake in this immoral, degenrate practice” be stricken from the record. The word “immoral” is entirely subjective and not specific.
JUDGE
Objection Overrules. Existing statutes give this word in the context used, legal credence. Can counsellor refer to an existing statute that labels marijuana users moralists?
PUBLIC DEFENDER
Which moralist are we using as criteria – Sherman Adams, Bernard Goldfine, Earl Long, Mayor Jimmy Walker, Huey Long, William O’Dwyer? Or does Court refer to moralists that violated Federal law: segregationists, traitorous anarchists who have given ambiguity to the aphorism “Of the people, for the people, by the people”? … or the moralists that flouted Federal law; the bootleg coffers flowing with billions, illegal whiskey drunk by millions… A moral standard that gives mass criminal rebellion absolution? And in the realm of the subject, the Defense requests that the six men on this jury be disqualified on the grounds of unfitness.
JUDGE
Can the Public Defender qualify this charge?
PUBLIC DEFENDER
The Defense submmits these qualitative and quantitative documents in answer to the Court’s query.
JUDGE
(reads the documents aloud)
“…And these six jurors have sworn in the presence of a Notary that their daily alcoholic consummation, martinis for lunch and Manhattans before dinner, totals and average of a half pint per day. Jurists also stated motivation for drinking: ‘Gives me a lift.’ ‘Need a boost once in a while.’ ‘After a frustrating day at the office a couple of belts lifts me out of the dumps.’” I fail to see the merit in your plea to disqualify. What is your point, succinctly?
PUBLIC DEFENDER
“The Mount of Olives” has disappeared in the moral martini. One cannot cast the first stone… if already stoned.
(DISSOLVE to INTERIOR: JURY ROOM and new Jurors)
FIRST WOMAN
You know, I was thinking, that Public Defender was right. A crutch is a crutch, no matter if it is made of wood or aluminum.
SECOND WOMAN
A couple of those jurors gave me the creeps anyway. The one with the thick fingers looked like a real moron.
THIRD WOMAN
And the other one with those sneaky eyes… I can always tell a person’s character by their eyes.
FIRST WOMAN
To serve on a juy in a civil case is easy but when you’re dealing with drug addicts, it’s rough. This damn jury duty has me a nervous wreck. I had to take five sleeping pills to get some rest last night. You build up a tolerance to the damn things so quick. I feel miserably today… I’m really draggin’.
SECOND WOMAN
Here, take one of these Dexies.
FIRST WOMAN
What are they for?
SECOND WOMAN
They’re amphetamine, Dexedrine spansules. My doctor gave the to me for depression and fatigue. They really give you a lift. I take them all the time, except when it’s “my time,” then I take Demerol.
THIRD WOMAN
(rummaging through her purse and producing a handful of pills: )
Do you know what these red and white ones are? My neighbor’s doctor gave them to her to try out. They’re supposed to be for nerves. Better than Miltowns.
SECOND WOMAN
Oh, these are Deprol. Umm, no… wait a minute… I think they’re Phenobarbs.
(An ELDERLY WOMAN JUROR, silent until now, turns and speaks: )
ELDERLY WOMAN
Come on, Ladies. We need a verdict. What are we going t do with this man?
FIRST WOMAN
Oh, yes… the dope addict. How does a person sink that low?
Love, always love,
-Reggie
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