mar 1, 1915 - Harrison Act

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Touting the title as the catalyst of the war on drugs, the Harrison Act is certainly a controversial entity. The act having precipitated out of the global opium trade made things complicated enough, but it generally coasted under the proverbial radar by way of particular wording and politicians dancing around the matters at hand. Of course, addiction was a matter that was neglected to be discussed, and the wording was vague enough to let it go unnoticed that the bill made it illegal for a doctor to prescribe opiates to combat addiction, as addiction was “not a disease.” As with any prohibition-esque regulations, black-markets were an inevitability, and while the bill was made to permit taxation on opioids and coca products, it led to something entirely different. Even over a century later, the effects are readily visible, and many are understandably angry over it to this day.

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