Cartoon Characters and the Drugs They Abused
Whether it’s “South Park”, “Family Guy”, “The Simpsons”, or even old-school throwbacks like “Scooby Doo”, cartoon characters are known for having some pretty odd behaviors. While these random quirks and idiosyncrasies might seem to reflect the sense of humor of the scriptwriters, perhaps something else is responsible – drugs! Following are ten widely popular cartoon characters and the drugs that might explain their attitudes, appearance and behaviors.
Goofy
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The Drug: PCP
Goofy is best known for his wacky and excessively happy go lucky demeanor, always peppering conversations with his trademark “ya-huck!” and livening up the mood of those around him. However, Goofy’s moronic personality goes beyond mere stupid optimism and it would not be surprising if PCP (a drug commonly referred to as “rocket fuel”) had a role to play in his impulsive nature. Maybe that would help this idiot savant’s occasional superhuman strength as well…
Shaggy & Scooby Doo
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The Drug: Marijuana
What’s the drug of choice for the hippie and the dog that are always hungry? It’s hard to imagine anything other than marijuana being the culprit here, with Scooby’s constant hunger for snacks being the one constant of every single episode. For that matter, Shaggy (with his stoner van as the group’s primary transportation) seems like a stereotypical burnout himself. What is not conveyed through the cartoon is that Shaggy actually lives in his van, is occasionally employed, and is 32 years old.
Smurfs
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The Drug: Magic Mushrooms
Famous for living inside mushroom-shaped homes, the Smurfs could hardly be blamed for – ahem, experimenting with their natural habitats. (Besides, what else could explain something so ill-conceived and awful as the “Smurfs on Ice” abomination?) Leave it to the Belgians to come up with a cartoon centered around blue midgets that love to trip balls.
Care Bears
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The Drug: Acid
Acid trips are known for producing vivid and outrageously colorful images, fanning the flames of fantasy-driven imagination. So it makes perfect sense to assume that the Care Bears, who populate a world of rainbows, fluffy clouds, and talking stars who hand out colored eggs, might be on one big ongoing acid trip. I mean, interacting with stars is just not normal (above).
Road Runner
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The Drug: Crystal meth
It would be tempting to ascribe the Road Runner’s speed-demon tendencies to traditional stimulants like cocaine or speed, but this would neglect the local drug culture of Road Runner’s western locale. Everyone knows the desert is “Meth Country.” This regional favorite (also known by its less-sexy name of “crank”) seems like a solid explanation for what fueled Road Runner’s need for speed all those years!
Pepé Le Pew
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The Drug: Ecstasy
The smooth-talking Pepé Le Pew is best known for his lady-chasing ways, dropping slick one-liners and making passes at any females he comes across. Perhaps Pepe’s turbo-charged libido can be traced back to ecstasy, a fast and thrilling drug known for skyrocketing sexual desires. (Of course, as Pepé demonstrates, merely having a higher-than-normal sex drive is no guarantee of satisfying it!).
Droopy Dog
(Source)
The Drug: Oxycontin
We all get into depressed moods from time to time, but when it lasts for months or years (decades?!) on end, one begins to suspect other causes. The notorious pain-killing depressant Oxycontin sure seems to explain Droopy Dog’s persistently pessimistic, passive, and downtrodden attitude toward life.
Brian Griffin
(Source)
The Drug: Alcohol
It didn’t take much detective work to trace Brian back to his drug of choice: booze. Those in doubt are encouraged to run a Google Images search, where you will find that 9 out of 10 pictures of Brian show him with a cocktail glass in his hand. This combined with his frequent pleading of “whose leg do I have to hump to get a dry martini around here?” make it quite clear which controlled substance Brian enjoys most!
Speedy Gonzalez
(Source)
The Drug: Speed
If you thought there wasn’t room for two speedsters in one article, think again! Speedy Gonzalez joins the Road Runner as another stimulant-hoarding speed freak, this time relying on (big surprise) speed. His favorite stimulant is necessary in helping him to sprint up, down, and every which way in “Looney Tunes” and silver screen hits like Space Jam.
Yogi Bear
(Source)
The Drug: Peyote
A true outdoorsman’s cartoon character, it would only be fitting that Yogi Bear indulged in a true outdoorsman’s drug – peyote. The psychedelic drug is found only in deserts, requiring Yogi to travel a bit further than the confines of his friendly forest. But as he is so found of telling us, Yogi is smarter than just “the average bear.” But seriously, what other drug would make one live in a cave and be completely consumed with stealing magical picnic baskets?
Written by Sarah on April 6th, 2009 | Tagged as: Paris Hilton,Popular Culture
On April 6th 2009, Ned Harkey wrote:
Those of us old enough to remember, recall the original seasons of Scooby-Doo where there were several episodes with scenes of both Scooby and Shaggy falling out of the van on their butts with a cloud of billowing smoke pouring out of the top of the open side door. I didn't dream up this obvious pot reference and these cartoons are no longer shown in un-edited form.
On April 6th 2009, zoom wrote:
Speed is meth idiot.
On April 6th 2009, trevor wrote:
FYI, meth and speed are the same thing.
On April 6th 2009, whyte rabbit wrote:
wow, congratulations on continuing the stereotypes of drugs in popular culture. you're so clever.
On April 6th 2009, Ted wrote:
Bill the cat was a famous one also lol
On April 6th 2009, Buddha wrote:
My drug of choice……. same as Shaggy and Scooby.. a harmless drug
On April 6th 2009, Cyruleanide wrote:
This is the first page I have looked at on digg.com, and i must say, it has got me hooked on this site. I knew of a few of these drugs users, especially scoob and shagg, but a lot of these really made all the sense in the world!
On April 6th 2009, John Doe wrote:
Captain Caveman and cocaine.
On April 6th 2009, Dude wrote:
Dude, your age is showing. The van, the mystery machine, belonged to Fred.
On April 6th 2009, Chris Lees wrote:
This reminded me of seeing an episode of Roger Ramjet where, for some reason, he's playing baseball against a bunch of criminals. In the end he takes his famous "proton pill" which gives him super strength, and he wins the game.
Drug cheat!
On April 6th 2009, John Davis wrote:
LOL, thats too funny dude. I dunno about that yogi bear!
RT
http://www.anon-tools.cz.tc
On April 6th 2009, Mihnea wrote:
I think Mojo Jojo is more suited for coke.
On April 7th 2009, jon wrote:
ecstacy didnt exist when pepe le pew was written so you're wrong.
On April 7th 2009, jonisanidiot wrote:
ecstasy DID exist when pepe le pew was written you idiot
On April 7th 2009, BrianJ wrote:
Um…speed is meth…meth is speed. Two names for the same thing. Speed is the street name, methamphetamine (or meth) is the technical name.
Yeah, me and my girlfriend can never agree on what drugs to do. I like smoking weed, but she likes smoking marijuana. I guess we'll never agree!
On April 7th 2009, mike wrote:
meth isn't speed.
Both are based on a phenyl ring, but meth has a Methyl group, hence the name "METH"
On April 7th 2009, blah wrote:
Ecstacy was invented in 1912. It began testing in the 1950's so yes…. it was around when Pepe Le Pew was written… Do some reading once in a while if you like having opinions.
On April 7th 2009, girl wrote:
Speed refers to any drug that is NOT a depressant. So shut up, you're all right.
On April 7th 2009, Mangor wrote:
Brian was also on coke.
On April 7th 2009, woman wrote:
Mighty Mouse and his infamous sniffing of the line of coke on his arm before he turns all "mighty"
On April 7th 2009, Jonny FunPants wrote:
Sheesh! Lots of ill-informed comments here. Speed is NOT anything that isn't a depressant and refers only to amphetamine, or amphetamine sulphate(sometimes called "sulph.") Meth, speed(and ecstasy) ARE related but are two different drugs. The fella who pointed out that meth contains a methyl group is correct. It's like we get bacon from pigs, but we also get pork chops from pigs – but bacon and pork chops aren't the same thing.
On April 7th 2009, scott wrote:
oh like we're supposed to believe that there's some sort of magical animal that gives us both pork and bacon!
On April 7th 2009, Dave wrote:
How can a list like this NOT include Underdog? For crying out loud. Whenever he got into trouble he opened his ring with the secret compartment and popped some speed. Get with it people.
On April 7th 2009, daxx wrote:
Actually, if you're going to include Brian from Family Guy, you should include cocaine. There was a whole episode on it where he was abusing.
On April 7th 2009, Ryb0 wrote:
Underdog did anabolic steroids not speed, sheesh. Speed is a term that can be used to describe lots of uppers, but meth is usually called meth or ice or some other name.
On April 7th 2009, swyv wrote:
srsly dude, peyote… c'mon you could do better than that. And the meth/speed thing, did a 12 year old undereducated white kid write this? lol, typical america… so sad.
On April 7th 2009, Kraft Dinner wrote:
I don't know about other people, but whenever I've done Oxycontin(oxycodone) I sure didn't get depressed. I got REALLY damn relaxed and felt awesome, but not depressed.
On April 7th 2009, Nighthawk wrote:
Scooby snacks were probably hash brownies
On April 7th 2009, Eric wrote:
I agree with Dave. Underdog took a pill from a secret compartment in his ring. This took him from a lowly shoeshine boy to Underdog. Prescription Uppers.
On April 7th 2009, pewtank wrote:
Ok all of these arguments are stupid for the same reason… they are all based off the fact that these cartoon characters did drugs… which might actually be possible if they actually existed. you all are nerds find something productive to do with your time, like bettering yourself. ha what a joke
On April 7th 2009, kaden wrote:
speed is sort of the same thing as meth, but crystal meth compared to speed is a big difference. anyone should know that.
On April 8th 2009, Bobbo wrote:
What about Fritz the Cat? He was an overt dope smoker and drunk. He never made the Saturday morning cartoons but was indeed one wild cartoon character.
On April 8th 2009, Chris wrote:
All speed isn't meth, but all meth is speed.
Speed = Amphetamines (a class of drugs) (and not to be confused with ampkamines, which just make you smarter)
Meth = Methamphetamine(an individual drug.)
But yes, it did occur to me that perhaps there was a reason for scooby and shaggy's constant munchies and use of the word like.
On April 8th 2009, GFYM wrote:
Speed and Meth are not quite the same.
Wikipedia:
Amphetamine is related to drugs such as methamphetamine…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphetamine
Methamphetamine is sometimes referred to as "speed", but this term is generally reserved for regular amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine
Chemical data Formula:
Speed – C9H13N
Meth – C10H15N
Close, but not the same.
On April 8th 2009, rob wrote:
I'd probably chalk Yogi up as a pothead. He never seemed like he would be one for hallucinogenics, and on peyote would definitely have no interest in pick-a-nic baskets.
He'd be struggling to keep down his last one.
I'd advocate you to do more drugs, if only to get the cartoon references correct.
On April 9th 2009, Xomich wrote:
Wait a minute, what about Popeye?!?!?!?
The pipe + Spinach = muscles
WTF is he putting in that pipe?
Isn't anybody thinking about it as well?
On April 9th 2009, pigiron wrote:
mighty mouse smells a flower then is energized, he does not snort coke…why tf am i commenting on this? my god i am bored
On April 9th 2009, jessa wrote:
pewtank– What the hell are you talking about these cartoons ARE real I watched them every Saturday morning for 22 years WTF where were you in the 70s?!?!
On April 10th 2009, Refill Cartridges wrote:
Seems like you favor Looney Tunes & Hanna Barabera cartoons, but where are the Disney characters (aside from Goofy)? Pooh Bear (laid back & always eating honey), Donald Duck (complete paranoid), Mickey Mouse (Never wears a shirt, high pitched voice). Clearly all drug users.
On April 11th 2009, lori wrote:
All the comments are interesting but don't we all have more important things we could be doing?
On April 11th 2009, anon wrote:
you clearly have never tried any of these drugs except for marijuana…if that.
On April 12th 2009, chado wrote:
anon: ive tried 'em all, and methamphetamines and oxycodone hcl, and sweet maryjane have to be my favorites…. interesting list.
On April 14th 2009, Alyssa wrote:
rob marijuana is a halucinagin read up be4 u post( i might not be the average stoner that veges out but i am a stoner). meth and speed are not the same things yet they might have a similar effect ( i say might as i have never done them) yet with chemical compounds they are very similar,
On April 21st 2009, Cry_Wolf wrote:
This was an interesting article aand made laugh a bit. I would have put Daffy Duck for cocaine abuse especially when he starts leaping & bouncing all over the place while sounding like an excited owl!
On April 21st 2009, Cry_Wolf wrote:
Oh, and as for Speedy Gonzales I think he's more of Ritalin junkie.
On May 2nd 2009, Raidered wrote:
There is one that the author forgot:
Super Chicken and his "super-sauce"
and then there is the "Barry Bonds" did-he-or-didn't-he?" scenario, Batman and steroids.
On May 20th 2009, Amazed wrote:
I think the comments are just as funny as the article…it's amazing how some people have to make such a big deal of speed vs meth or weed vs cannabis. Dang people lighten up….Batman and steroids…thats a good one!
On May 22nd 2009, nick wrote:
there are various forms of speed, meth is not the only one and is usually not referred to as speed because it is a drug all on its own
On May 27th 2009, InGunsWeTrust wrote:
I think of all of the ill informed ideas I read in those comments there is one that REALLY stands out! "Batman and steroids"?! That is not a good one! He was a calculated martial artist and businessman at the same time! Where is the roid rage? Where is the work out fetish?
On June 10th 2009, anon2 wrote:
batman + steroids = yes ( just because he wasn't at the gym working a bowflex…. leaping buliding to building? and rage… youve only watched the saturday morning cartoons amirite?)
yogi was most definitely a stoner
spongebob is on prozac BTW.
On June 10th 2009, Seriously wrote:
You are all acting like this dude committed some kind of war crime. It was his attempt to be humorous and even if it failed who gives a shit. It's not like he said, "Here is a humorous article and it is 100% right, don't even try to argue with me because I know every drug that was ever made and I have personally interviewed the creators of the characters and they have agreed with me." Go back to playing Pokemon.
On June 12th 2009, Amanda wrote:
These are pretty awesome, and sound accurate. However for the fools beneath me, speed and meth are COMPLETELY different substances. Speedy is not as readily available as meth. Its so 80's
On June 24th 2009, Jonathan wrote:
*sigh* No, speed and meth are not the same thing. *rolls eyes*
On June 26th 2009, spuffler wrote:
Speed is a term that has described many compounds over the years. Over 40 years ago, when I was 9, I was prescribed little red tablets that were supposed to 'speed me up'. Evidently these did very little as I never finished the bottle and there were fights about what to do with the rest. I was diagnosed with ADD 30 years later, so I think we can narrow down the drug family using factual information.
Captain Caveman and Cocaine – yup, I see that. And I remember Scooby and Shaggy falling out of a smoke filled van… just like Spicoli in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (copycats).
Sigh – the days when addiction was denied, but also when usage was clearly implicated. Since the drug experimenting counter culture was heavily encroaching the arts, including artistic media such as animation, is it a surprise that the created characters were portraying characteristics familiar to the artists?
Folks, use a brain cell – the prescription drug industry pushes more pills onto patients than there ever were addicts to illicit drugs. Legal drugs are … just 'drugs' with a pedigree.
On June 27th 2009, bambi wrote:
woooo this is a hoot… and ecstacy and speed is a hoot rite now at 7am … THE NEXT MORNING! but who cares wat in em… the feeling is the key…
On June 27th 2009, bambi wrote:
whos going to bring us more gear?
On July 2nd 2009, You're Mom wrote:
Drugs are bad. Pretty sad so many have such horrible lives that they need drugs to make themselves feel better about themselves.
Sad, truely sad.
On July 3rd 2009, Cyruleanide wrote:
Yeah, for the ignoramus who believed that ecstasy was not around when Pepé Le Pew was first created, let us bring something to light- It was once a LEGAL prescription drug use to cure depression, I BELIEVE. Have you not ever heard of MDMA? Look things up before you pretend to bloody know everything, jon.
On July 19th 2009, Todd wrote:
Jon is wrong about PePe LePew and ecstacy!
MDMA (ecstacy) was created prior to WW2 by nazi scientists so troops could march for days. So , you see Jon, the history channel might be better for you then the cartoon network, or in this case an equal dose of both. It's always best to know what you're talking about before opening your blog hole.
On December 1st 2009, jasmine thompson wrote:
i think dis is stupid how could you take an innocent children's show and just make it horrible of course stars wont talk to you i and you know that that's why it's mot for us stupido these are children programs and it's just good nature fun for little kids and something for them to be excited about dat is wrong low down and dirty for whoeva posted dis to take this and try to make it horrible i hope you dont have kids because dat is not right these characters are not using drugs and neither are the voices of the charcaters and as far as the dog from family guy dat is not a kids show so dat really doesnt matter it's people like you (da one who posted dis)dat can take all da fun out of innocent things i hope dat dey take dis off da internet you should be ashame of yourself u fun killer and unintelligent BOOB everything dat u posted about those charcaters is STUPID
On December 25th 2009, kickinitinmySTP wrote:
speed is not meth speed is amphetamine and crank is cocaine and meth mixed
On January 5th 2010, mike wrote:
well i still like the smurfs they don't seem bad to me.
On January 8th 2010, yousuckballs wrote:
stupids, meth and speed are vastly different.
speed: methamphetamine
meth: crystal methamphetamine.
meth is crystals and smoked in a pipe.
speed is snorted.
meth makes you scratch your own face off and gets you high
speed stops you sleeping but gives you a tiny buzz
and for the record, yogi's on opium. you seen the amount of flowers he sticks up his nose?
On January 9th 2010, norm wrote:
Would've been all funny had you not included Brian Griffin, from Family Guy or some shit?
On January 27th 2010, Morton wrote:
Do you really want to learn the difference between meth and speed? Well, the difference between ALL drugs? Go to rehab. Better yet, be the MOM who has to go to the three day seminar to learn all about meth.
Trust me, meth and speed are NOT the same drug. My son was addicted to smoking meth. I've learned more than I ever wanted to know about meth. One of the best things I've learned is that you can get clean, so HURRAY for that. :) Happy Mom :) Going on 4 years.
As for my time and having better uses for it than looking at this cartoon and making a comment PewTank….what anybody does with their time is none of your business. YOU took the time to comment. YOUR comment was insulting. I'm just spending a few moments hitting stumbleupon while my laundry is drying. I'm not hurting anyone or insulting anyone. Think before you type.
On January 27th 2010, Pete wrote:
Nobody seems to care about Bender(sob).Stupid meatbags!
On January 28th 2010, the stoner wrote:
ok first mdma was not what was used by german soldiers is was some form aof speed meth or something of te srt bbecause no1 knew what anything was you do nt go faster on anything because of mdma and i agree with the yogi on opiom as i have popies in my yard and i experamented and it is from what ive seen to be the somewhat same behaviors of yogi i would say all of this is acurate except fo please addd coke to brians list ps any1 says shit about my cmment well your stupid as this is only how i wee it not that i am sbmitiing hard facts these are only my thoughts…. comment on my typeing tryv useing a lapeop with keeys that are line less than a cm wide go skrew yourself
On January 28th 2010, the stoner wrote:
who ever said the mystery machine was fred u wrong because in the movie shaggy nd scoob r the only ones in it so its shags no comment on my comment
On February 1st 2010, Diele wrote:
as a recovering heroine/cocaine addict i know the drugs….first off….
droopy is a heroin addict,
second of all….so is batman…..has no one else ever noticed his pure white eyes? ive seen that happen to many a heroin addict]
popeye originally smoked marijuana, but parents complained….so he started eatin spinach instead….,.stoopid parents
drugs are bad period….but it doesnt mean you cant get some humour out of it
liven up a bit people
On February 15th 2010, Indiana Art wrote:
HA! It's all true! It's all, all true!
On May 2nd 2010, Jamie wrote:
Speed is amphetimines, meth is methamphetamines, they are similar, but not the same.
im 15 and i schooled you ass
On May 13th 2010, Ann wrote:
Under Dog was a pill popper, he kept his “super pills” in his ring.
On August 1st 2010, mojo 131 wrote:
.sm people just take life to seriously, thats what wrong with ths fking world 2day I lauighed so hard i peed in my pantys because i knew eveyone of these characters.,.the 60,s & 70,s was all peace and love and the 80′s was (sex,drugs and rock and roll) party till u drop! i dont know what the hell happened the last 20yrs but io beleive it has smthing to do with the ones busting his balls.I .,actually ran across this site while looking 4 a mighty dog vintage plush dog link because i just found mine at my mothers place.and just 4 the record meth and speed r not the same.it has similar effects,difference is the FDA approved all the different types of speed in various forms and meth, ice ,crank, shake and bake,whatever u want to call it is made from certain allergy pills battery acid , fertilizer, and lye., and smking coke and crank is nt the same.. and by the way meth was invented by hilters army to keep his soldiers awake and alert and meth r not the same.execty, gives u an eurphoric feeling meth dosent.Yea im a doper .once a doper always a doper,but im proud to say ive been clean 4 20yrs. so all you young kids out there heres a word from smone whose “been there and done that” you may be having goo time now, or you may just be tring to forget . WAKE UP!! Make smthing of your life b4 its to late. if u nd help get it dont be scared or ashamed ,there rtree things in life that r important and they will always be there 4 u the lord, family and youself. friends and good times come and go.you probably wont remember them because your high.make smthing of yreslf. and 4 the rest of you guys ‘GET YOUR PANTYS OUT OF A WAD’ LIGHTEN UPON HIM IT WAS FUNNY AS HELL. KUDOS TO U FOR HAVING THE GUTS TO PUT IT OUT THERE!!!!!!!!!!
On August 12th 2010, Karwasche wrote:
Great stuff! And I can believe every word of it!
On September 1st 2010, duh wrote:
Methamphetamine may often be referred to as “speed”, a term that is also used for regular amphetamine without the methyl group
On September 18th 2010, anony wrote:
so what about Foghorn Leghorn?
On September 25th 2010, peace wrote:
@ Zoom and Trevor….fYi there are many many other forms of speed besides meth. Take it from a child of hippies. You youngsters should do your research before you speak
On November 13th 2010, Hummm wrote:
Speed is a amphetamine. Meth is an amphetamine mixed with a psychotropic (in very simple terms). They are not interchangeable terms.
On December 6th 2010, misterhyde wrote:
Brian Griffin had a whole episode about legalizing pot too, along with his other drug and alcohol problems.
Kenny from South Park was addicted to “cheesing”.
I probaply shouldn’t have told you that.
Drugs are bad, mmmkay?
On January 13th 2011, jennifer wrote:
that is what im talking about???????
On February 9th 2011, anastasia courey wrote:
A lot of you ignoramuses sound like nerds. Just appreciate what this guy did and shut the fuck up.
On February 18th 2011, thelizardking wrote:
Well people always say that the “cartoons” r for the kids but seriously they are grown men an women drawing cartoons no matter how much u wana deny it they were split images of what the arist was like…I mean come on walt disney alone was a pediphile an not to mention every disney movie is useally about a princess that is from a troubled home…they all don’t have mothers an if they do have mothers its an evil step mother alice in wonderland lets be real u can’t have that big of an imagination with out doin some kind of drug there was either drugs or sex or both involved in disney cartoons…but the shaggy an scooby marijuana theory is a given, the speedy gonzales I see it but that’s alil dumb, road runner ok, yogi as some people may say he was a stoner but in some episodes he’s useally seein something that wen he goes an gets the park ranger it magically dissappears? Sends a lil TRIPPY to me, I mean juss look at the era that most of those shows were made….in the 60′s an 70′s the biggest drug wave in history droopy dog was def a herion addict u can’t deny that he’s way to strung out an depressed all the time an if u realize it in the show he DIPS OUT sometimes an that’s a side effect of heroin….juss because its a cartoon doesn’t mean its all for kids…they see it as a magical thing an that’s because they r young but the artist kno what their doin its creative they r usin a cartoon to make people think is that really a reference to that or this or is it juss a couincedents<<sry can't spell well lol….but all in all they might be intended for kids but artist arnt stupid they kno what they put or refer to in their work….ooo an the whole care bears an LSD is kinda dumb I mean they r bears that talk…right there is a trip in its self but as far as the bears trippin idk bout that…but the symbols on there bodies r more then juss wat they show look more into its a pretty cool thing to know about the oh so innocent care bears lol…peace love an acid oh yeah an more drug related shows look into HR PufnStuf….that's a perfect example of artist havin hidden meanins in there work……..
On August 26th 2012, Micah wrote:
Methamphetamines and amphetamines are two different things. Speed is the street name for drugs like Adderol, Focalin, and Vivance.
On October 14th 2012, Candyman wrote:
Hahaha I like Despicable Me also Jennifer