Ted Trask - Harrison Narcotics Tax Act of 1914. Contains unread posts

The Harrison Narcotics Tax Act of 1914 was passed in order to control and impose taxes on the manufacturing, importation, and sale of cocaine and opiates. The act initiated the control of narcotics and the start of America's drug policy, or "war against drugs" (Harvard, 2019). Pharmacists were originally compelled by the Harrison Act to register with the IRS, pay special taxes, and maintain transaction records. It attempted to guarantee a scientific goal along with a safe and responsible justification for taking these medications. Rather, the Act resulted in tighter regulation of narcotics and substances (Stanford Law, 2014). The Harrison Act's consequences unintentionally made addiction illegal. As a result, the selection of legal drugs that were available to the public decreased significantly. As a result, those who struggle with addiction began looking for illicit narcotics on black markets, which made their actions unlawful. The medical community was greatly touched by this Act. Opioid addiction was common at the period in America. Because of this Act, physicians who prescribed drugs to addicts faced legal repercussions. This is how I came to know that physicians would not treat addiction as a medical condition (Redford, 2016). The first federal drug law to require the control of specific medications was the Harrison Act. Subsequent Acts were modeled after this one. Where there had previously been no regulation, this Act brought opium and cocaine into the mainstream. This Act imposed restrictions and made it illegal, which led to an upsurge in crime for many years. Due to this Act, marijuana was subject to restrictions by the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act (US Customs, 2018). The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 was the next major law, establishing drug "schedules" and classifications for their illegality. Despite the widespread belief that the Act was a bad thing for society, it actually prevented uncontrolled risks associated with drug use by putting limitations on narcotics. The Act did, however, have a number of negative effects on addicts, including the stigmatization of drug addiction. It drove a lot of addicts into the criminal underworld in order to get drugs to fuel their addictions. The best interests of society were considered when creating the Harrison Act. Drug addiction was widespread, and measures were required to stop it. It took long-term measures to stop America from falling deeper into the addiction trap. However, the Act will never be forgotten as the one that made drug addiction illegal, which slowed down more humane, health-focused responses to drug addiction in America and created socioeconomic gaps in drug enforcement. Later, lawmakers saw that enacting convoluted drug regulations isn't always the best course of action. Punitive measures, which frequently have unforeseen implications, must have a boundary between public safety and other considerations. The Harrison Narcotics Tax Act represents a momentous and contentious period in American history regarding drug legislation. The Act made it illegal for pharmacists and medical experts to distribute drugs, but it also made addiction a crime. As a result, lawmakers passed more punitive drug legislation in place of public health initiatives. This Act serves as an example of why addiction treatment is necessary rather than just punishment. Future legislation should be flexible enough to accommodate treating addicts while maintaining legal enforcement.