Hi,
Tom Dowd, in his DVD about the music (gotta see it to believe it!), had some very nice things to say about that music of the 50's and early 60's that was kinda taken away from black America and taken over by the movie studios.
Without making an inference to drugs (Tom would know about that through the Allman's later), his suggestion was that the experimentation in music during that time was very good, but it kinda died because it could not sell, and get airplay, or appreciation.
Sadly, for example, many things that fit that description were longer cuts and extended jams, most of which the record companies in America made a point of killing, so it would not kill their commercial top ten list. Miles had many bootlegs in the late 60's and early 70's, most of which featured a full side, which might or might not have one or two pieces of his that were previously known embedded in it. Same thing for the majority of the Blue Note stuff ... most of which gets released, is nothing but a bunch of "songs", and not quite even a very good description of the work itself.
The one where this is most criminal? Grateful Dead! They were known for 4, 5 and 6 hour and all night things, and I can tell you they did not sleep through those hours at all! But you will NEVER, EVER find a release of any of their extended jems anywhere ... which means that you do not have a good idea of what taught many of these musicians what they knew and did in music!
America, with its prohibition media, pretty much killed all the sex, drugs anything ... and made them look bad and worse, to the point where 60 years later, people are still paranoid of marijuana and what not. The downside of all that? ... it distorts the ability of the human internal creative spirit ... and its expression. What you hear is a cut up version that ends up not making much sense musically, but is much closer to the pre-defined concepts in music tnat experimentation and drugs would never have given you!
You don't need the drugs ... but sometimes, to combat the environment, you pretty much have to shut them all off ... and drugs is a good thing ... that help you get somethings done, that might or might not be good, in retrospect ... but other than a handful of quasi-fake-religious folks, I have not met anyone that regrets their experience and learning ... without it, you are not the person you are today ... or ever!
So, if you want to be dishonest, go ahead ... hide your past ... if you want to be an artist, it becomes your next masterpiece!
All else is talk disguised under one name ... FEAR!