Editing Harrison Narcotics Tax Act (section)

== Enforcement ==
Enforcement began in 1915.<ref>[http://enforcement.lawin.org/drug-enforcement-administration Drug Enforcement Administration | Enforcement | Encyclopedia of Law].</ref> The act appears to be mainly concerned about the marketing of opiates. However, a clause applying to doctors allowed distribution "in the course of his professional practice only." Physicians believed relieving the suffering of physical dependance was within the "professional practice" exception. King says "there is not the slightest suggestion that Congress intended to change this". He says the public hysteria surrounding contemporaneous press reports about violent "dope fiends" probably distorted the Congressional intent and turned addicts into criminals.{{sfn|King|1953|p=737-9}} 

The "professional practice" clause was interpreted after 1917 to mean that a doctor could not prescribe opiates to an addict.  Addicts and doctors were jailed for decades under theories adopted by the [[Federal Bureau of Narcotics|Narcotics Division]] that addiction could not be successfully treated in a clinical setting.{{sfn|King|1953|p=737-9}} A number of doctors were arrested and some were imprisoned.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}} The medical profession quickly learned not to supply opiates to addicts. In ''United States v. Doremus'', 249 U.S. 86 (1919), the Supreme Court ruled that the Harrison Act was constitutional, and in ''[[Webb v. United States]]'', 249 U.S. 96, 99 (1919) that physicians could not prescribe narcotics solely for maintenance.<ref name="kand" />

The impact of diminished supply was obvious by mid-1915. A 1918 commission called for sterner law enforcement, while newspapers published sensational articles about addiction-related crime waves.<ref>Albert F. Nathan. "Drug Fiends Make 'Crime Wave.'" ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' (1886–1922). Los Angeles, Calif.: Nov 30, 1919. p. II1 (2 pages)</ref> Congress responded by tightening up the Harrison Act—the importation of [[heroin]] for any purpose was banned in 1924.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

[[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]] [[William Gibbs McAdoo]] appointed Representative [[Henry T. Rainey]] to lead a special committee to investigate the law's effects.<ref name=":1" /> In June 1919, this Rainey Committee found that criminal organizations were smuggling drugs into the country across all four of the United States' coastal and land borders.<ref>[http://adh.2.forumer.com/a/america-in-the-19th-century_post470.html The Consumers Union Report on Licit and Illicit Drugs] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120701161441/http://adh.2.forumer.com/a/america-in-the-19th-century_post470.html|date=2012-07-01}} Edward M. Brecher and the Editors of ''Consumer Reports'' magazine, 1972</ref> Annually, the United States consumed 470,000 pounds of opium, whereas France and Germany each purchased around 17,000 pounds of opium. While the United States' 1920 population of 106 million was far larger than France's 1921 population of 39 million and Germany's 1920 population of 62 million, [[per capita]] opium consumption was still much higher in America.<ref name=":1" /> Based on the [[United States Department of Commerce|US Department of Commerce's]] monthly summaries of foreign commerce, between July 1919 and January 1920, imports of opium increased to 528,635 pounds from only 74,650 pounds during the same period a year prior.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Kennedy |first=Ezra J. |date=May 1920 |title=Suppressing the Opium Traffic |url=https://archive.org/details/pharmaceuticaler53newyuoft |journal=[[The Pharmaceutical Era]] |volume=53 |issue=5 |pages=130}}</ref>