PS268 Lecture Notes - Harrison Narcotics Tax Act, Reformism, Stimulant
Document Summary
The trend toward reform was given direction and energy by the public discussion of several drug-related problems, and those first federal drug laws reflected the specific problems that fueled their passage. (opium was first) Morphine: narcotic primary active chemical in opium. Patent medicines: medicines sold directly to the public under various trademark names, associated with the period before 1906. (peddlers) Opium & chinese: us brought over chinese workers who smoked opium it ended up spreading amongst the general population until laws were passed. Cocaine: became available in the mid 1800s and was used in medicine, tonic, etc. , became popular to sniff in lower class areas (stimulant from coca plant) 1906 pure food & drugs act: president roosevelt recommended in 1905 that a law be enacted to regulate interstate commerce in misbranded and adulterated foods, drinks and drugs. This act prohibited interstate commerce in adulterated or misbranded foods and drugs bringing the federal government full force into the drug marketplace.
