The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-09
u. S. OFFICIALS
LEAD IN FIGHT
ON MARlHUANA
Urge States Pass Uniform
Code; Import Problem
Heightened.
This is the third and last Of a series
of articles on a new drug menace con-
fronting the nation.
BY NED BROOKS
Times Special Writer


WASHINGTON, Oct. 9.-As the
net of state regulation closes more
tightly about the domestic produc-
ton and sale Of marihuana, the fed
eral government finds itself con-
fronted with the problem Of more
effective control over imports.
Thirteen states in the past two
years have enacted laws forbidding
sale of the weed to smokers, attest
ing an awakening of local interest
in curbing a drug which for GEN.
turtles has been a curse in the Orient
and whose use is spreading in
America.
Thirty-four states now regulate
marihuana sale, thirty-one have
laws making possession illegal, and
thirteen control its cultivation as
plant.
Ten Years in Texas
In Texas, which joined the cru
SADIE several years ago, ten-year
prison sentences and $4,000 fines are
provided for raising marihuana and
authorities have set out to destroy
all wild and cultivated plants.
In Miami this year new vendor
was sentenced to five years on the
road gang, the longest road sentence
ever imposed in the state, for
peddling marihuana cigarets.
The United States bureau of mar
cotics is actively encouraging states
to pass regulatory legislation. It's
proposed uniform state narcotics
law, already adopted by a number
of states and Endorsed by leading
medical, anti-crime and welfare
groups, and the American Bar AS
ISOLATION, provides restrictions on
marihuana along with the more
deadly opium and its derivatives,
heroin and morphine.
Imports Controlled
States still without control over
marihuana are: Connecticut, Della
ware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland,
Minnesota, Missouri, New Hamp-
shire, North Carolina, South Caro-
lima, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vir-
GINA and West Virginia. West Vir-
GINA has certain restrictions under
its health act, while in Kentucky,
Minnesota and Missouri the larger
cities control the drug by local ordi-
nance.
Since 1881 the following states
have enacted regulatory laws,
chiefly prohibiting sale: Alabama,
Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois,
Indiana, New Jersey, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The only federal control is under
the food and drugs act which di-
reefs collectors of internal revenue
to refuse delivery of all conSign-
ments of the tops of marihuana, or
Indian hemp, unless the importer
executes a penal bond certifying it
is for medical use.
Smuggling Problem Grows
Since 1881, none has been i'm
ported legally, and in 1880 and 1881
total imports were only 1876 pounds.
Until now, smuggling has not
been a great problem, since the
weed grows wild here or can be
easily cultivated. Shipments are &C.
casionally seized along the Mexican
border, and Canada recently COM
planned that it was being brought
across at Detroit. Mexico forbids
marihuana traffic, but its laws are
loosely enforced.
With the curtailment of the do
nestle supply due to state laws,
however, it may be necessary to
adopt more stringent federal legis-
lation against imports, according to
H. j. AnSlinger, commissioner of
narcotics. Such control as the fed
eral government now exercises over
foreign-produced narcotics would be
unavoidable as to marihuana, Of
f1cials say.
The federal government does,
however, give marihuana addicts
the same rights of treatment in the
two narcotics hospitals as are af-
fOrded other drug sufferers.