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18 Loy. L. Rev. 243 (1971-1972)
Drugs and the Law

handle is hein.journals/loyolr18 and id is 257 raw text is: LOYOLA
LAW REVIEW
Copyright 1972 by Loyola University
VOLUME XVIII         NEW ORLEANS, LA.          NO. TWO
DRUGS AND THE LAW
Tom C. Clark*
In law the term narcotics has been given an artificial mean-
ing. Rather than treating classes of drugs, each of which has simi-
lar chemical properties or pharmacological effects, the law has
grouped several classes of drugs together for the purpose of legal
control. Thus narcotic drugs include the opiates and cocaine as
well as marijuana which is a . . . hallucinogen.
THE OPIATES
The opiates include opium and morphine as well as their de-
rivatives, compounds and synthetic equivalents. Public concern as
to opiates is focussed largely on heroin which is a derivative of
morphine. It is presently the chief addictive drug in the United
States. The Bureau of Narcotics-prior to its merger with the
Bureau of Narcotic and Dangerous Drugs-estimated that there
were some sixty-thousand opiate addicts in the United States. This
figure is low and based on a list of opiate addicts maintained by
the Bureau. Present estimates run as high as two hundred thousand
addicts.
Heroin has no known medical use and its manufacture or
importation is prohibited by federal law. All herion transactions
are, therefore, criminal. Other federal narcotic drug acts are tax
laws based on importation. Transfers of narcotics on official order
forms and in the original containers may be made by and to per-
sons registered with the Treasury Department and who have paid
certain occupational taxes.
* Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court (Retired).

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