Abstract
In discussing the existing drug laws in this country, it is useful to break them down into two categories: First, the Federal and state laws directed at marijuana and narcotics and, second, the Federal and state laws governing hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD. Laws regulating and prohibiting the use of and traffic in the various drugs arose in response to public concern over their abuse. Federal regulation began with the Harrison Narcotic Drug Act of 1914, which was aimed at opium and other "hard" narcotics. In 1937 Congress enacted the Marijuana Tax Act, modeling it largely after the Harrison Act, and treating marijuana in a manner similar to narcotics. The Ohio General Assembly, adopting the Uniform Narcotics Drug Act, defined "narcotic drugs" to include marijuana, thus dealing with both in the same manner. Legislation designed to control the traffic in hallucinogenic drugs began in 1965 when Congress enacted the Drug Abuse Control Amendments to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Ohio followed suit in 1967.
Recommended Citation
C. William O'Neill,
Legal Aspects of Drug Abuse,
19 Clev. St. L. Rev.
461
(1970)
available at https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/clevstlrev/vol19/iss3/7