Evening star., 1952-11-29
Stronger D. {. Laws
To Break Up Traffic
In Narcotics Urged

IN NdTCOnCS urged
Spokesman for local groups yes
terday called for stronger laws
against narcotics traffic and dope
addiction but differed on methods
to be used.
They testified before the Citi-
zens' Advisory Council on a pro-
posed bill that would increase
narcotics penalties and ban pos
session Of a hypodermic needle
without doctors certificate.
Although compulsory hospital
treatment of dope addicts was
not before the council yesterday,
several witnesses urged that it be
considered. "a.
Spokesman for the Police De-
|partment, D. c: Congress of Par
|ents and Teachers, the Washing
ton Board of Trade, the District
Pharmaceutical Association. Dis
|trict Board of Pharmacy and the
Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions Endorsed the so-called needle
law"
Sees Diabetes Harmed.
DR.. William p. Herbst, chair
man of the District Medical Soci-
ety's Committee on Public Policy.
urged the council to delete all
references to the hypodermic ar
ticles in the bill. DR.. Herbst IA
vored sitter penalties for drug
peddlers and urged mandatory
minimum sentences. which the
bill as. now drafted does not
provide.
He recommended that the coun-
Gil consider compulsory commit
ment of drug addiots and study
facilities for hospitalizing them
in the near future.
AS for the .hypodermic needle
restraints. which form a part of
the proposed bill, he contended
that such curbs would work a
hardship on 5000 or 5000 dia-
betics and others needing injec-
tions The bill provides that
patients in need of injections
should carry a doctors certificate.
DR.. Frederick c. Heath, acting
District director of public health,
said the law would be of some
help, but more consideration
should be given to legitimate users
of hypodermic needles.
DR.. Heath suggested that a
committee work out a compromise
approach to the problem and he
also raised the possibility of COM
pulSory hospital treatment.
More Power for Police.
Deputy Police Chief Clarence H.
Lutz and Capt. John B. Layton,
chief of the Police Narcotics
Squad. said the proposed bill
would give the police an added
weapon to cope with the narcotics
traffic. although it would not
cover the entire field. Inspector
Lutz also said disqualification of
addicts might be considered.
Inspector Lutz pointed out that
since Maryland strengthened it's
laws. a good many" dope users
are coming here from Baltimore
because District laws are less
stringent. The inspector insisted
that legitimate users of hypo-
dermic articles would not be mo-
lested. ts-"
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Irving Bryan testified that eight
States, including Maryland, now
have some form of needle law,
and he noted a general trend
throughout the country to in
crease penalties against drug
peddlers. He was asked how the
law would affect diabetes coming
to Washington from other COM
munitieS and having no Identify
ing doctors certificate. He replied
that that was the toughest
problem.
Alfred L. Tennyson, chief coun-
sci of the Federal Bureau of Mar
cotics, urged that the penalty
clauses be brought in line with the
Federal penalties, particularly to
include mandatory minimum
sentences.
Mr.. TennySon said the bureau
believed there would be definite
benefit in controlling hypodermic
articles but added that perhaps
more important than this would be
a provision to assure compulsory
disqualification of dope addictS.
F. Royce Franzoni. vice presi-
dent of the District Board of
Pharmacy. said he believed the
ban on hypodermic articles should
be enlarged to include other de-
vices by which addicvs inject dope.
Backed by Trade Board.
Henry F. Lerch.. chairman of
the Board of Trades Public
Protection Committee, recon-
adoption of the proposed
hill Sidpov Chochot 'tepiSla tive