Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-12-14
MAY
WIDEN Federal
NARCOTIC Law
Secretary McAdoo Recon-
mends Additional Taxes and
Penalty for Violations

News reached Honolulu yesterday
that Congress may add further to the
Harrison anti-narcotic law, under
which police and federal officials are
now fighting the alleged ''drug-ring
on Oahu.
Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo
! in his annual report speaks of the Co
operation that physicians and drug
gists are rendering the public officials
in enforcing this law. and also recon-
mends further amplification of its pro-
visions. His report says:
while the act of December II,
1914, known as the Harrison narcotic
| law, has only been in effect since
March /, 1915, the results accom-
plished in this short time clearly
demonstrate the need for and the wis
dom of such legislation.
AN interesting feature of the adj
ministration of this law is the cooper
alton on the part of reputable physi-
clans and wholesale and retail drug
gists with the department in its eff
forts to enforce the law strictly. One
of the largest wholesale drug houses
in the country, expressing its commen.
dation OF the act and its enforcement
by the treasury department, writes
that it's sales, which it considers rep
resentative, of opium and cocaine
show a decrease of rs per cent since,
the beginning of the operation of this
invaluable law.
Investigations and prosecutions in.
cident to the enforcement of this law
have disclosed conditions which call
for remedial legislation, both with a
view to strengthening the law and
ameliorating the sufferings of unfort-
unate citizens, addicted to the use OF
narcotics. The law curtails the use
of these drugs without any provision
in the statute for the treatment of
those who are financially unable to OBJ:
tain necessary treatment at a hospital
or sanatorium.
1T is suggested that this law be
amended or revised by providing:
First. A tax on the drugs speci-I
fed, based upon some unit of weight, |
such tax to be denoted by stamps at.
fixed to original packages or contain
ers, and that the list Of prosecuted
drugs be extended to include choral
hydrate, and cannabis indica, and 9th. |
err drugs having the same general
with clear definition of
substitutes and synthetic substi |
tutes" for such drugs.
Second. The repeal of section 6.
Third. That registration under
this law shall be limited and restrict
ed to persons lawfully. entitled under
state laws to dispense, prescribe, ad. |
minister, or have in possession such |
drugs.
Fourth. That the writing of pre-.
scriptions, filing, keeping records.
and the altering or fefging thereof.
be definitely and fullI covered by the
law, with adequate/ provision for the
punishment of tbe offenses denounced
therein, and prefiding that the tax i'm.
posed upon drugs shall not attach to
prescriptions compounded from drugs
once tax paid.
Fifth. That every person regis.
tered under the provisions of this law
be required to keep record of all mar
cotic drugs purchased, received, dis
pensed, distributed, prescribed or ad.
ministered, and that collectors Of in.
ternal revenue be authorized to re-
quire sworn statement covering such
registered persons operations in these
drugs for a given period.
Sixth That all of the general
provisions of the internal-revenue