The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 16 letter word OVER-THE-COUNTER
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "drugs without prescription" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case drugs without prescription = over-the-counter.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does OVER-THE-COUNTER mean?
OVER-THE-COUNTER adjective- Legal for sale or distribution without the requirement of a prescription (of medicine and other treatments); abbreviated as OTC.
- Involving direct interaction between two parties without an intermediary. Thus, any market where items such as stocks or currency are bought and sold at a distance, rather than on the exchange.