Since the Reagan era, the United States government has not played around when it comes to regulating possession or illegal substances. Heroin, opium, morphine and many others are all generally illegal for individuals to possess, unless you have a prescription and that was only in the case of morphine, a rare occurrence. Criminal penalties first came about in 1909 with the passage of the Smoking Opium Exclusion Act. This law banned the use, possession and importation of opium that was used for smoking. However, this law didn’t regulate medications that were opium based, but it was still the first federal law that controlled non-medicinal use of a substance.

1924 Heroin Act
 
Then, the 1924 Heroin Act made the possession, importation and manufacturing of heroin illegal, even if it was for medicinal use. The Narcotic Drug Import and Export Act of 1922 preceded the Heroin Act and was responsible for ensuring that proper controls were established for the sale, importation, production and use of narcotics. Together with the Uniform State Narcotic Act, which encouraged states to pass laws to match the Federal Drug Import and Export Act, these laws served as the next step in narcotic and drug enforcement and regulation in the United States.

Minimum and Maximum Drug Posession Penalties
 
In 1951, a law was passed that imposed maximum penalties for violating import and export laws relating to narcotics and then, just five years later in 1956, a second law increased those penalties. During the course of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, more drug enforcement laws and regulations were created, and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) was created to take the place of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Through increased penalties and state and Federal laws, the government was able to clamp down more heavily on drug users and suppliers. Funding was also increased to help develop programs targeting children and students to inform them of the dangers of substance abuse, as well as to help people who suffered the ill effects of drug abuse. Through both enforcement laws and the development of prevention and treatment programs, drug enforcement has become more even-keeled, though there is still a highly negative stigma attached to narcotics and the users of illicit substances. Only time will show if this perception will change along with the ever-evolving laws and programs.
 
Do you think that the current drug laws in the U.S. go too far? Not far enough? What about the treatment and prevention programs? How much drug-related regulations should there be and to what end?

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"Criminal Penalties for Drug Possession" posted in Addiction, Addiction Recovery.
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