Editing Drug (section)

= Drugs in [[Star Wars]] = 

In [[Star Wars]], most drugs are known as '''spice'''. Alcohol, caffeine (though obtained from "caf" beans instead of coffee or tea) and tobacco (or an analogue for it: the only things to actually call the stuff in cigars and cigarettes "tobacco" are some really early books already notorious for not really fitting into the universe stylistically) exist, but they seem to not count as spice. During Republic and Imperial control most spice is illegal. This has created a large network of smugglers willing to supply the people. This network was further augmented by the Empire's high tariffs (to pay for its new standing army) on mundane goods allowing smuggling to be seen as heroic, even if they ''also'' smuggled drugs.

[[Star Wars RPG|Star Wars D6]], [[Star Wars D20|Star Wars D20 and Saga Edition]] assume drugs are largely background fluff or a plot device. ''[[Star Wars Roleplaying Game|Edge of the Empire]]'' on the other hand assumes the player characters will be drug dealers to some degree and just about every book included details on new spice. This involvement could be as small as looting drugs captured from enemies and selling them to criminal contacts or the entire campaign/adventure being about spice smuggling.

*'''Avabush Spice''': Derived from the prickly Avabush plant that is common on Baros but virtually unheard of elsewhere. It causes relaxation, lethargy and truthfulness.
*'''Bacta''': Not a spice, but absolutely a medicinal drug. This fluid made by the insectoid Vratix is basically healing magic ''in space''. Can cure anything from physical wounds to disease given sufficient amounts of it. No indication has been made of a bacta addiction being a thing. Bacta is relatively new to the galaxy, only being discovered ~4100 years before the Battle of Yavin and post-dating the Republic (founded 25,053 years before the battle of Yavin). It was preceeded by Kolto, which was made from deep sea seaweed found only on the planet Manaan. Kolto's artificially high prices from monopolistic control backfired when the more effective and cheaper bacta became known. It faded from galactic memory and could only keep a small marketshare as a weaker, cheaper substitute or for those poor bastards with allergies to bacta who also can't afford gene therapy.
*'''Booster Blue''': Huffing this starship paint (it ''actually is'' paint, or at least a component of it) leads to enhanced agility and thinking, but causes high strain on the body.
*'''Death Sticks''': The only type of spice actually mentioned by name in the films. Ground alien mushroom suspended in liquid. Mildly hallucinogenic but has severe health detriments. Unusually Death Sticks are not illegal on most planets, merely restricted, paralleling tobacco. Not that you'd want any Death Sticks. Instead [[Meme|you want to go home and rethink your life.]]
*'''Glitterstim''': "Mined" in the prison mines of Kessel. It's actually the ground up webs of alien spiders. Allegedly gives telepathy. Since it provably increases sensitivity it is frequently combined with other spice. Most Glitterstim goes through official channels to be used in legitimate medical drugs. The Kessel Run instead focuses on smuggling it out of Kessel through an un-patrolled but hazardous back door full of black holes. Completing the Kessel Run requires a fast ship to avoid being pulled into a black hole, with really fast ships able to get closer to the black holes without dying horribly (this is why Han Solo's completion is measured in a unit of distance. Even though the script and Obi-Wan's reaction show Han is just trying to bullshit the farmboy this has become accepted Star Wars lore because retcons are a thing.). During the New Republic the mines are openly run by paid volunteers. The fact that such prominent figures as Nien Nunb, Lando and Mara Jade are involved in running it suggests the New Republic has a much friendlier drug policy that its predecessor, likely because the Alliance depended so heavily on smugglers. The pre-Ruusan Old Republic could be either way, the Post-Ruusan Reformation Old Republic was probably restrictive and the Galactic Empire likely continued this, what with smuggling Glitterstim having been a point of major competition at the latest by 0BBY.
*'''Lesai''': Derived from a fungus that grows on lizards native to the Zebitrope system. Is temporarily removes the need to sleep, but causes high dependency.
*'''Ryll''': ''Actually'' mined on Ryloth, the home planet of the [[Twi'lek]]. It causes hallucinations and memory loss. The fact that it's the only non-slave export for the planet kept anti-drug crusaders away from it till the Imperial era, which banned it. The New Republic combined it with Bacta to create a cure for the horrific Krytos Virus.
*'''Yarrock''': Berserker... something grown by old Zabrak Shamans. What it actually ''is'' was never detailed. Quite rare off its home planet.