I've yet to see any evidence where MS violated any federal laws.
Again, as I was told (because I never used or even bought one), at one time the anectine could be purchased over the counter, as could a lot of drugs some 25+ years ago.
I remember my dad medicating, even doing minor surgery, on hogs, cows, hunting dogs, etc. for himself and for neighbors.
You could buy poison to control predators, tranquilizers to catch a skittish beagle, etc. My dad bought penicillin by the pint and syringes to inject it with at the local feed store. Wasn't considered to be a big deal at all. Nowadays you can't get a good insecticide thanks to the epa.
Don't be disappointed in Mr. Bear. At the time, the pod was looked at under a different light than it is now.