Evening star., 1952-02-27
District Agencie!
GET Proposals
On Dope Law
Commissioners Aim
To Tighten Sstup
With Amendments

The Commissioners today seF1l
70 II District enforcement and
medical authorities 4 p0ugh draft
6f proposed amendments t0 tiahtu
On existing narcotics laws here
~ 4 The hrst time that the pV0s
posed provisions have been spelled
0ut bv the eltV'6 leaal staT Glnee
the subject WAS handed M them
several Weeks RR0 tor the puVpOAa
~ amending present laws,
Corporation Counsel Vernon N,
WeAt Aald no wants the advice and
suggestions NJ interested public
0I'lalala and medical organizations
DeiaFe no draws w the hnRI lRDs
RnARe 0f the new provisions,
Chief Aims Listed,
Chief aims Of tho amendments
are these
J. Extend tho scope OF tho law
70 users OF drugs beyond present
application 10 unauthorized sell
Hk ana possession,
2, Make 1t q criminal otfense,
except IN special listed cases, TO
possess or use such devices as
hypodermie needles for the use OF
drugs BY injection,
3, Provide for the licensing Of
dealers In hypodermic needles and
similar instruments.
4. And increase the penalties for
violations of the District Narcotic
Drug Act and regulations of the
District Board of Pharmacy pre-
pared under authority Of the act,
8. Provide for outlawing the
"illegal sale. gift. administering or
Offering" of any narcotic drug to
O minor.
Follows Murray Suggestion.
The draft closely follows the
recommendations Of Police Supt.
Robert v. Murray, who has been
trying to get a narcotics law with
stronger teeth for the District. The
provisions of the proposed amend
ments closely parallel similar legis-
lation adopted about q year ago In
Maryland against illegal traffick-
Ing Of drugs.
The proposed ''needle law" is
regarded as one Of the more i'm.
p0rtAht sections Of the proposed
amendment,
In the wording yet forth by
the corporation e6ufisei's 0ffiee IL
Wolud be against the law for "af1y
person 10 have In his possession
or uBe or have available for use"
any hyp0deffflle needle, SYRINGE
"of ether device adapted for The
use OF narcotic dFuas by lhtFau
vehells, subeutahe0us or other lRu
jeeti0n
These specific exemptions are
provided tor the needle possession
statute physicians dentists, p0s
diAtrlstsl nurses and veterlnaPs
lAhb Hp0thegArlesi uDdertakerB,
hvB0derlnle Heedle Dealers nef1s
eerA and employees 0f Federal, Dis
trlet and other 00veFDmeHtAhI
employees ut hospitals and lHbarHs
tories approved by The hHHllh
bfHHef BeiAHhH whB have 4 Iaedls
cal esrtlheHte Ab6wlhH They are
feaHlfHa 10 uAe hyBBdsflhIe liees
dies Bh themselves ny tiLhHpA, and
persons HAVING h veterinarians
eeftlheHlH hh6Wlha They hava Il
lealtll1Ats tt6 ube the hesale Oh
animals,
bieeRaiRH NJ BeaIeFE
The new amendment W4Hld als9
FedVlP6 licensing 0f hEp8dePmie
Dealers 'bHt exempted from this
provision W9Hid DO licensed phys
BlelanS 9P ap0theGRFlesl
Alth9HRh the amendment "A II
now STANDS pp0VIdss acme specific
penalties the corporation g9HnSelIR
once has left blank many penalty
provisions f9E second eP Third Of
fensesi MTi West pointed out he
particularly wants The advice gf
outside ekpertS ON the extent Of
those penalties
Az present first affenses are mis-
demean0Fs having 4 range nj fines
between 800 and $1,000, with a
maximum Of ons year In iall, Sub
seaHent alFenses are now listed as
felonles drawing fines from $500
ITO $4,000, with o maximum OF 10
years imprisonment,
The proposed amendment would
raise 0 first ofEense penalty to
$4,000 and three years impFlson-
ment for the illegal possession, sale
or use OF drugs, for maintaining 0
common nuisance" In q store or
dwelling used by drug addicts or
for forging or altering Of drug
prescriptions,