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U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS REPORT'S
(Report's
by the Government of the United States of America
)
19
Yearly Reports Covering from 1932 thru 1952
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended
Dec. 31, 1932
(page 43)
7.
Indian Hemp (Marihuana)
Indian
hemp is not indigenous. The small
European variety formerly cultivated in the
United States
has been replaced since 1857 by the
larger Chinese hemp. The commercial
hemp production of the country (which is used for the fiber) is now practically
limited to
Wisconsin
and
Kentucky
, the total area being 200 acres in 1932. However,
hemp is abundant as a wild plant, especially in Western and
Southwestern
States
, frequently being found as a roadside weed.
The
production and use of Indian hemp (cannabis sativa, hasheesh, marihuana) within
the
United States
are not prohibited by Federal law.
In
some 7 States, however, the cultivation of Indian hemp is prohibited, while in
some 16 other States the sale or possession is prohibited except for medical
purposes.
The
present constitutional limitations would seem to require control measures
directed against the intrastate traffic in Indian hemp to be adopted by the
several State governments rather than by the Federal Government, and the policy
has been to urge the State authorities generally to provide the necessary
legislation, with supporting enforcement activity, to prohibit the traffic
except for bona fide medical purposes. The
proposed uniform State narcotic law, elsewhere discussed herein, with optional
text applying to the restriction of traffic in Indian hemp, has been recommended
as an adequate law to accomplish the desired purpose.
As
to importation, it may be said that, by regulation under the Food and Drugs Act,
approved June 30, 1906, collectors of customs are directed to refuse delivery of
all consignments of dried flowering tops of the pistillate plants of cannabis
sativa, unless the importer shall first execute a penal bond conditioned that
the drug referred to will not be sold or otherwise disposed of for any purpose
other than in the preparation of medicine. No
cannabis indica was imported during 1932.
The
abuse of the drug in the
United States
consists principally in the smoking of the resinous flowering tops of the
plant, rolled into cigarettes, for the narcotic effect.
This abuse is noted particularly among the Latin-American or
Spanish-speaking population.
It is possible that some
quantity of cannabis indica may be clandestinely introduced into the
southwestern part of the United States from Mexico or that supplies are
similarly introduced into the city of New York by members of crews of vessels
arriving from South American, Mexican, and Cuban ports.
However, since the hemp grows wild to such an extent, it is assumed that
the total quantities of this drug clandestinely introduced into the
United States
from foreign countries cannot be very large.
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1933 (page 35)
7.
Indian Hemp (Marihuana)
Indian
hemp is not indigenous. The
commercial hemp production of the country (which is used for the fiber) is now
practically limited to Wisconsin and Kentucky, the total area being 190 acres in
1933. About 100 acres in Iowa were
used for growing, this plant, but it is believed that in Iowa not all was
harvested or used for any purpose. Cannabis
sativa, however, grows wild in almost every State in the Union.
There is extensive wild growth of the plant in the States of Arizona,
Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
It is also clandestinely cultivated in these States and in a number of
other States. In the States growing
beets for the beet-sugar industry, the Mexican laborers in the fields
clandestinely plant patches of this weed among the beet plants, and harvest it
and sell the drug or use it personally for the gratification of personal desire.
The
production and use of indian hemp (cannabis sativa, hasheesh, marihuana) within
the United States are not prohibited by Federal law.
The laws of some 34 States and of the Territory of
Hawaii control either the cultivation, sale, or possession of marihuana, but
these State laws are not uniform. All
of the 34 States and the Territory of Hawaii govern the sale of this drug; 31 of
them and Hawaii make its possession unlawful; while 13 of them and Hawaii
control its cultivation.
As
to importation, it may be said that, by regulation under the Food and Drugs Act,
approved June 30,1906, collectors of customs are directed to refuse delivery of
all consignments of dried flowering tops of the pistillate plants of cannabis
sativa, unless the importer shall first execute a penal bond conditioned that
the drug referred to will not be sold or otherwise disposed of for any purpose
other than in the preparation of medicine. No
cannabis sativa was imported during 1933.
A
disconcerting development in quite a number of States is found in the apparently
increasing use of marihuana by the younger element in the larger cities.
The
drug is most commonly used in the form of cigarettes, selling generally from 15
to 25 cents each, or from 3 for 25 cents to 3 for 50 cents, but it is also used
mixed with beer or other alcoholic beverages, for its stimulating properties.
There
is some smuggling of this drug to and from Mexico, also some interstate traffic
in the States of the Rocky Mountain region, but not to a great extent.
The Canadian authorities have advised of some smuggling of this drug into
Canada, especially from Detroit and its vicinity.
There has been some unlawful importation of this drug by ship, but since
the hemp grows wild to such an extent, it is assumed that the total quantities
of this drug clandestinely introduced into the United States from foreign
countries cannot be very large.
On
November 23, 1939, upon arrival of the steamship Metapan, at Pier 7, North
River, New York City, from Kingston,
customs officers conducted a search of the vessel and found among other
articles, a package containing marihuana, the drug being seized because it was
not entered on the ship's manifest.
An
increasing effort is noted by the various States in endeavoring to stamp out the
growing evil of the use of marihuana, as shown by the increased number of
arrests and prosecutions of violators of the various State laws controlling this
drug.
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the
United States of America
)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended
Dec. 31, 1934
(page 41)
IX.
Indian Hemp (Marihuana)
The
fiber-producing type of cannot sativa was grown for fiber production on about
3,237.56 hectares in 1934. It is
understood that when the plant is cultivated for fiber, it is harvested quite
early, generally when the staminate plant begins to flower and before the
pistillate plant is fully developed, and that the resin-containing flowering
tops consequently would not be obtainable from a crop harvested for the fiber.
No
comprehensive survey has been made, but it is evident that there are in the
aggregate considerable areas devoted to the growth---vvhether cultivated or
wild---of cannabis from which the flowering tops are gathered and sold.
The cultivation or growth of cannabis is not controlled by Federal law
although many of the States have statutes designed to accomplish this purpose
within their respective borders. No
statistics on the production of flowering tops, for medical purposes or for
nonmedical purposes, are available.
Thirty-six
States have laws regulating the sale or possession of the drug, and restricting
its distribution except for medical purposes.
Sixteen of these States either prohibit or regulate the cultivation and
growth of cannabis. No figures as to
production or stocks of the resin are available.
During
the year, some activity on the part of authorities of a few States was noted in
the detection and elimination of various areas of growing cannabis.
Several patches--exact area not reported---were discovered in and around
Denver
,
Colo.
, and one patch was found growing wild near the railway tracks near
Colorado Springs
,
Colo.
Areas were found growing in or near
Atlanta
,
Ga.
,
Jacksonville
,
Fla.
,
Tulsa
,
Okla.
, and a small plot was discovered and destroyed within the city limits of
Brooklyn
, N. Y. In
Rhode Island
it was reported that the weed grows wild throughout the State and the State
authorities have pursued a campaign toward destruction of this growth while
considering measures to prevent reestablishment of the crop.
The State authorities of
California
report destruction of the largest acreage of the weed during the marihuana
season (July 15 to Sept. 1) since the State enforcement agency was established;
in the
San Joaquin
Valley
alone approximately 4,000 pounds of the growing plant were torn up and
destroyed.
There
is no Federal law specifically regulating the importation of cannabis, but by
regulation under the Food and Drugs Act, collectors of customs are directed to
refuse delivery of all consignments of dried flowering tops of the pistillate
plants of cannabis saliva, unless the importer shall first execute a penal bond
conditioned that the drug referred to will not be sold or otherwise disposed of
for any purpose other than in the preparation of a medicine.
No cannabis sativa was imported pursuant to this regulation during 1934,
indicating that all supplies for legitimate medical uses were obtained from
domestic sources. There is some
exportation of cannabis from the United States intended for medical use in the
country of destination; in a few cases the attention of the Bureau of Narcotics
was called to shipments made by dealers in the United States which did not
conform to the import requirements of the country of destination, and in each
case the exporter was warned not to repeat the irregularity, which evidently
occurred through lack of knowledge of the foreign import requirements.
There
is evidence of a degree of smuggling of cannabis into the
United States
. On
March 29, 1934
, customs officers seized at Belt's wharf,
Baltimore
,
Md.
, three tins containing a total of 31.5 pounds of marihuana.
The drugs were found concealed in the starboard bunker on the S. S. Mandu,
a Brazilian vessel, which had that day arrived at
Baltimore
from
Santos
and other foreign ports, the last port of call being
New York City
. The shipment was not manifested
and was confiscated, but it was not possible to ascertain the party responsible
for the attempted importation.
In
June 1934 a young girl was arrested in Brooklyn, N. Y., just after leaving the
S. S. Byron, then docked at the pier at the foot of Fifty-eighth Street, in that
city, and when searched, was found to have concealed on her person a package of
shoe insoles impregnated with about a pound of cannabis.
The girl is reported to have agreed with a 11 donkey-man " on the
vessel to take these insoles off the vessel for the sum of $10, with the
understanding-according to her version-that it was a box of candy for a friend.
Both were held under bond for prosecution.
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1935 (page 30)
ILLICIT
TRAFFIC IN CANNABIS
The
American Government has hitherto found it impracticable to report seizures of
cannabis, there being as yet no Federal legislation penalizing traffic in this
drug and the United States being a party to no treaty covering cannabis.
With the improvement in State legislation on the subject, however, and
with increased interest in the prevention of the abuse of this drug, it has
become possible to institute in the common interest a system of reporting
seizures effected by State authorities.
The
plant, which ranges in height from about 3 to 14 feet, seems to be capable of
cultivation in practically every State. Seizures
throughout the country during 1935 show the existence of a dangerous and rapidly
increasing traffic in cannabis, Indian hemp, or marihuana.
The flowering tops are crushed and smoked in the form of cigarettes,
which retail at sums ranging from 10 to 50 cents each.
During
1935, over 195 tons of marihuana (as growing plants, bulk, and cigarettes) were
confiscated and destroyed by various State officers with whom our agents have
cooperated. (See table 10-A.)
The
Bureau has furnished aid to various States toward educating enforcement agents
and State and city chemists concerning marihuana and its identification.
In the absence of Federal legislation on the subject, the States and
cities should rightfully assume the responsibility of providing vigorous
measures for the extinction of this lethal weed, and it is therefore hoped that
all public-spirited citizens will earnestly enlist in the movement urged by the
Treasury Department to adjure intensified enforcement of marihuana laws.
Nine
additional States passed marihuana legislation during the year.
With the exception of Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee, all of the
States now have laws regulating the sale or possession of this drug.
A
few States, of which New York, California, and Florida are notable examples,
deserve high commendation for the way they have taken hold of this problem and
are ruthlessly stamping out the illicit use of and traffic in marihuana.
Several
patches of marihuana under cultivation, totaling more than 71/2 acres, were
discovered at Cooney, Freemont, Elgin, Bryan, Paulding, Spencerville, Van Wert,
and Lima, Ohio; 10.5 acres at Langeloth, Howelville, Maryville, Goosetown, and
Malvern, Pa.; one-half acre at Azusa, Calif.;
and one-eighth acre near San Antonio, Tex. Smaller
plots of cannabis, exact area not reported, were destroyed at Columbus, Ga.; at
Rochester, Greece, Charlotte, and New York City, N. Y.; at Wilmington, Del.; and
at Blufrton, Ind.
The
State authorities of New York reported destruction of the largest acreage of
cannabis during 1935. In greater New
York City, 309 areas were discovered, from which 185 tons of cannabis plants
were destroyed. From 10 areas
located in up-State communities, 1 ton of cannabis plants is estimated to have
been destroyed. The State
authorities of California reported the destruction of 723 pounds of cannabis and
892 growing plants during 1935.
Cannabis
in varying amounts was seized or destroyed in the following States: Alabama,
Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri,
New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas,
Virginia, and the Territory of Hawaii. Convictions
were obtained in many cases.
On
October 8,1935, Rochester (N. Y.) police, with the cooperation of Federal
narcotic agents, discovered a number of small fields of cannabis under
cultivation in the vicinity of Rochester, Greece, and Charlotte, N. Y., at which
time approximately 1,090 plants were destroyed.
The owners of these plots of land were Italians.
They claimed that they formerly grew the plants in Italy and that they
have for a long time used the seeds in candy, cake, pies, and even in soup.
There was no apparent attempt to sell the seeds, flowering tops, or
finished product for gain; and, for that reason, the officers stated that they
did not believe that the persons arrested would be prosecuted.
The
following table shows the number of arrests in New York City for violations of
the New York laws governing cannabis, for each year since 1928:
1929-----------------------------11
1933 -----------------------------37
1930-----------------------------15
1934 -----------------------------161
1931-----------------------------6
1935 -----------------------------121
1932-----------------------------14
Of
the 161 persons arrested in 1934 for violation of the laws governing cannabis,
37 were peddlers. Of the 121 persons
arrested in 1935, 50 were peddlers.
On
July 1 and 16, 1935, respectively, State enforcement officers visited certain
farms situated near Malvern and Howelville, Pa., and discovered 2 1/2 acres of
cannabis under cultivation concealed by fields of growing corn.
The fields were destroyed.
Although
it was not possible to estimate correctly the amount of cannabis which might
have been harvested if the plants had been allowed to mature, the
opinion was expressed that the fields would have yielded approximately 27 pounds
of the drug. The defendants,
Luis Manon and Michael Ruiz, were held for prosecution.
On
September 18, 1935, State enforcement officers arrested Teofilo Chavez. Fred
Chavez, Frank Chavez, Marjorie Chavez, Emmez Guzman, and Joe Garza at a farm
near Cooney, Ohio, and approximately 3 acres of cannabis were seized and
destroyed. Eighty-five pounds of
cannabis ready for smoking, 300 pounds (gross weight) of the flowering tops, and
75 pounds of cannabis seeds were seized. Each
of the defendants was held in default of bond awaiting trial.
While
investigating the above-mentioned case, the officers learned that one Sylvestro
Gonzales was growing and cultivating cannabis on a farm near Fremont, Ohio.
There they discovered a field of cannabis surrounded by growing corn.
Part of the field had already been cut for the purpose of curing.
The officers seized and destroyed 2 acres of growing plants, 3 tons of
cannabis racked for curing, and 16 bushels of flowering tops from which the
resin had not yet been extracted. The
defendant was arrested and will be prosecuted.
On
September 17, 19, and 20, and October 2, 1935, State officers arrested Pedro
Mandez, Pedro Nieto, Salvador Capetilla, Harry Horlendez and Rafael Tolento at
Elgin, Paulding, and Fremont, Ohio, and seized approximately 2,500 pounds of
growing cannabis and 810 pounds of cured tops.
Four of the defendants were fined and the fifth held for trial.
On
October I and 10, 1935, Toledo police officers searched the premises occupied by
Louis Gonzales and Antonio Navarro and found approximately 740 pounds of
cannabis concealed therein. Both
persons were arrested. On October
10, 1935, police made a further search of the premises and discovered 200 pounds
of cannabis concealed beneath the floor boards.
The defendants were each sentenced to I year in prison.
On
October 18, 1935, police officers at Lorain, Ohio, arrested Florentino Garcia
and Jesus Fierro and seized two truck loads of cannabis plants, stalks, and
leaves, weighing approximately 1 1/2 tons, net.
The defendants were committed to the county jail until fines ;and costs
of prosecution could be paid.
On
September 27, 1935, police at New Orleans, La., raided a cannabis cigarette
"factory" in that city and arrested Anthony Fazzio, Alice Fazzio, and
Henry Denapolis. Only a small
quantity of loose cannabis was discovered, but one person, subsequently
ascertained to be one Mary Rodriguez, escaped with a package, which one of the
defendants stated contained 4,000 marihuana cigarettes.
On
November 24, 1935, the same police raided the premises occupied by Robert
Williams and William Cayce, Jr., and seized 10 tin bread boxes containing 10,000
cannabis cigarettes. The defendants
were held for prosecution.
On
September 14, 1935, police in Sacramento, Calif., arrested Tony Alvarez and
confiscated 175 cannabis cigarettes and a supply of the plant in bulk form
sufficient to produce 5,000 additional cigarettes.
Alvarez was held for prosecution.
On
October 11, 1935, State narcotic officers discovered one-half acre of cannabis
(growing in a field near Azusa, Calif. A
number of the plants had already been harvested.
These weighed approximately 300 pounds.
There were still about 309 flowering cannabis plants under cultivation.
These, when uprooted, weighed approximately 150 pounds.
The owners of the field, Pedro Lugo, Jesus Roigos, Antonio Figuerga,
Frank Vasquez, Roque Vasquez, and Mrs. Polita Vasquez, were arrested. together
with Donald W. Ramsey, Edward Dobrilien, and Toby Whidden, who were implicated.
All were held for prosecution.
There
is no Federal law specifically regulating the importation of cannabis, but by
regulations under the Food and Drugs Act, collectors of customs are directed to
refuse delivery of all consignments of dried flowering tops of the pistillate
plants of Cannabis Sativa, unless the importer shall first execute a penal bond
conditioned that the drug referred to will not be sold or otherwise disposed of
for any purpose other than in the preparation of a medicine.
No Cannabis Sativa was imported pursuant to this regulation during 1935,
indicating that all supplies for legitimate medical use were obtained from
domestic sources. There is some
exportation of cannabis from the United States intended for medical use in the
country of destination; in a few cases the attention of the Bureau of Narcotics
was called to shipments made by dealers in the United States which did not
conform to the import requirements of the, country of destination, and in each
case the exporter was warned not to repeat the irregularity, which evidently
occurred through lack of knowledge of the foreign import requirements.
The
only evidence that there might be large-scale, smuggling of cannabis into the
United States occurred in the seizure of 220 pounds of the drug at Brownsville,
Tex., on July 5, 1935. Customs
officers discovered this illicit shipment concealed in a carload of fresh
pineapples which had been shipped to Brownsville from Tampico, Mexico.
The guilty parties were apprehended, convicted, and sentenced.
It
should be, noted that, in most of the principal ports of the United States,
unauthorized possession of cannabis is contrary to law.
New York, Washington, Oregon, and California all have laws to this
effect.
See
IX, Indian Hemp (Marihuana) for information regarding legitimate cultivation.
== ==
==
(page
39)
IX.
Indian Hemp (Marihuana).
The
fiber-producing type of Cannabis Sativa was grown for fiber production on about
4,512 hectares in 1935 in the States of Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska,
and Wisconsin. It is understood that
when the plant is cultivated for fiber, it is harvested quite early, Generally
when the staminate plant begins to flower and before the pistillate plant is
fully developed, and that the resin-containing flowering tops consequently would
not be obtainable from a crop harvested for fiber.
The hemp grown in Illinois, Minnesota, and Nebraska remained in shocks in
the fields, to be used in making fiber for textile purposes.
That grown in Kentucky and Wisconsin was retted for producing spinning
fiber. The hemp in Kentucky and
Wisconsin was grown from seed produced in Kentucky, while the hemp grown in the
other three States was from seed represented as being Manchurian.
No
comprehensive survey has been made, but it is evident that there are in the
aggregate considerable areas devoted to the growth---whether cultivated or
wild---of cannabis from which the flowering tops are gathered and sold.
No
statistics on the production of flowering tops for medical purposes, or as to
production or stocks of resin, are available. (For in formation regarding the
Illicit Traffic in this drug see discussion under Cannabis.
Table 10-A in the appendix shows seizures of marihuana, as growing
plants, bulk, and cigarettes, by State officials during 1935).
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America
)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended
Dec. 31, 1936
(page 57)
ILLICIT
TRAFFIC IN CANNABIS (MARIHUANA)
The
rapid development during the past several years, particularly during 1935 and
1936, of a widespread traffic in cannabis, or marihuana, as it is more commonly
known in the
United States
, is regarded with much concern by the Bureau of Narcotics.
Ten years ago there was little traffic in this drug except in parts of
the Southwest. The weed now grows
–wild in almost every State in the
Union
, is easily obtainable, and has come into wide abuse.
The situation is especially fraught with danger because the abuse of this
drug is being carried as a new habit to groups which have not been heretofore
contaminated by drug addiction.
As
grown in the
United States
the marihuana plant ranges in height from 3 to 14 feet.
It thrives in almost any soil and seems readily to adapt itself to almost
any climate. The flowering tops,
leaves. and stems are crushed and smoked in the form of cigarettes, either alone
or mixed with tobacco, the cigarettes selling from 5 to 50 cents each.
The
reports received in the Bureau of Narcotics covering the seizures of the drug by
State and municipal authorities throughout the country during 1936 clearly
establish that the cannabis problem is one of increasing national significance.
Seizures were made in 12 States from which none had theretofore been
reported. A total of 31 States
reported seizures of varying quantities of the drug and destruction of
considerable areas of the growing plants, as follows:
Alabama
,
Arizona
,
California
,
Colorado
,
Delaware
,
Florida
,
Georgia
,
Illinois
,
Indiana
,
Kentucky
,
Louisiana
,
Maryland
,
Massachusetts
,
Michigan
,
Minnesota
,
Mississippi
,
Missouri
,
Montana
,
Nevada
,
New Jersey
,
New Mexico
,
New York
,
Ohio
,
Pennsylvania
,
Rhode Island
,
Texas
,
Utah
,
Virginia
,
Washington
,
Wisconsin
, and
Wyoming
. Seizures were also reported from
the
District of Columbia
and the
Territory
of
Hawaii
. Of the 20 States in which seizures
were made during 1935, only
Kansas
and
North Carolina
reported none for 1936. (See table 4-A in appendix.)
A
total of 377 seizures were reported, involving 386 tons, of growing plants and
dried bulk marihuana and 15,715 cigarettes.
This was an increase of 191 tons, or almost 97 percent, over the 195 tons
reported during 1935, and clearly indicates the rapidity with which the traffic
is expanding. The increase in
seizures of growing plants may also be regarded as all indication that State
authorities are becoming more familiar with the plant and its identification,
being able more frequently to accomplish the very desirable result of effecting
its destruction before it is harvested and available to the traffic.
Four
hundred thirty-eight arrests for cannabis law violations by State and municipal
authorities were reported during 1936. Of
these, 134 were for sales of the drug. In
70 of the cases charging unlawful possession the quantities of the drug involved
were sufficient to indicate that it was being held for sale.
California
reported the largest number of arrests, with
Ohio
,
Louisiana
,
Colorado
,
Pennsylvania
,
Texas
,
Michigan
,
Illinois
,
Maryland
, and
Massachusetts
following in the order named.
The
movement for adoption of the uniform State narcotic drug act which has led to
its enactment by 29 States since its introduction in 1933 to December 31, 1936,
while focusing attention also on the perils of the illicit uses of opium, coca
leaves, and their derivatives, has been particularly effective in making known
the need for adequate legislation for the control of production, possession,
sale, and use of cannabis. That
there is an aroused public opinion which recognizes the menacing potentialities
of illicit use of the drug is evident from the numerous requests for information
concerning the evils of cannabis addiction and the extent of suppressive
legislation. All of the 48 States
and the
Territory
of
Hawaii
now [3] have legislation of some nature for the control of cannabis.
Of these, 37 control or license production; 44 control possession; and
all 48 control sale. Twenty-nine
States include control and regulation of cannabis in the uniform State narcotic
drug act. Among these are
Mississippi
and
Wisconsin
, in which States the act became effective during 1936.
Eleven States have special cannabis acts and eight include cannabis in
their general narcotic laws.
The
uniform narcotic drug act as recommended to and enacted by the several States
defines cannabis as--
(a)
The dried flowering or fruiting tops of the pistillate plant Cannabis
Sativa L., from which the resin has not been extracted, (b) the resin extracted
from such tops, and (c) every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture,
or preparation of such resin or of such tops from which the resin has not been
extracted.
This
definition is based upon the traditional conception that the active principle of
the drug, technically known as cannabinol or cannabinone, is present only in the
female or pistillate plant and present there only in the flowering tops.
Recently, however, since the development of more refined chemical tests,
it has been discovered that the active principle up to 50 percent of the U. S.
P. strength is contained in the leaves of the pistillate plant as well as the
leaves of the staminate plant.
The
Bureau had been anticipating a challenge of the old definition in the courts,
and it was met recently in a case in
Florida
when a defendant in appealing to the higher court of that, State said:
We
are of the opinion therefore that the information was insufficient to clearly
apprise accused of the nature and cause of the accusation against him because of
the sale of cigarettes containing cannabis from which the resin had not been
abstracted may relate to the resin of the staminate plant, the resin of which
appears to be harmless.
This
challenge clearly demonstrates the immediate advisability of making the
definition all inclusive in laws for control of the drug.
To meet this need, the following is suggested for enactment into the
several State enforcement acts as a more accurate and more effective definition
of the substance:
"Cannabis"
includes all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the
seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; and every
compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant,
its seeds, or resin; but shall not include the mature stalks of such plant, oil
or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any compound, manufacture, salt,
derivative, mixture, or preparation of such mature stalks (except the resin
extracted therefrom), oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of such plant which
is incapable of germination.
As
yet there is no Federal law governing the production and use of cannabis, and
the legal fight against its abuse is, therefore, largely a problem of State
legislation and local enforcement.[4] In
the absence of additional Federal legislation the Bureau of Narcotics therefore
can carry on no warfare of its own against this traffic except in the way of an
educational campaign describing the drug, its identification, and evil effects;
and by cooperating with those States and cities which have laws or ordinances
against the drug, in teaching the officers how to recognize the cannabis plant.
As stated, the drug has come into wide and increasing abuse in many
States, and the Bureau of Narcotics has therefore been endeavoring to impress
upon the various States the urgent need for vigorous enforcement of local
cannabis laws. However, there is now
in progress a definite movement to secure the necessary Federal legislation to
bring this drug within the scope of Federal enforcement activities.[4]
EFFECTS
OF CANNABIS (MARIHUANA)
Despite
the fact that medical men and scientists have disagreed on the properties of cannabis
(marihuana), and that some are inclined to minimize the harmfulness of this
drug, the records offer ample evidence that it has a disastrous effect upon many
of its users. The toxic effects
produced by its active narcotic principle appear to be exclusively on the higher
nerve centers. While its effects are
variable with different individuals, it usually produces first an exaltation
with a feeling of well-being, a happy jovial mood, an increased feeling of
physical strength, and a general euphoria. There
is also a stimulation of the imagination followed by a more or less delirious
state characterized by vivid kaleidoscopic visions, sometimes of a pleasing and
sensual kind, but occasionally of a gruesome nature.
Accompanying this delirious state is a remarkable loss in spatial and
time relations; persons and things in the environment look small; time, is
interminable; seconds seem like minutes and hours like days.
The
principal effect of the drug is upon the mind which seems to lose the power of
directing and controlling thought. Its
continued use produces pronounced mental deterioration in many cases.
Its more immediate effect apparently is to remove the normal inhibitions
of the individual and release any antisocial tendencies which may be present.
Those who indulge in its habitual use eventually
develop a delirious rage after its administration, during which time they are,
temporarily at least, irresponsible and prone to commit violent crimes.
In
this connection, attention is called to the following excerpt from a report of
one of the experts of the subcommittee on cannabis of the Opium
Advisory Committee of the League of Nations:
If
hemp is consumed at very frequent intervals---some inveterate addicts smoke over
50 pipes of it in 24 hours---the subject lives in a state of permanent stupor,
interrupted by increasingly frequent periods of exaltation and well being.
These alternate with crises of melancholia accompanied by terrifying
hallucinations which provide confirmation of his more or less delirious
convictions.
At
this stage addicts become dangerous; they are intensely susceptible to
suggestion; the simplest affirmation or the slightest obstacle arouses
transports of fury, joy or jealousy, or a menacing attitude.
Eventually they have to be placed under restraint, as the result of some
crime or at any rate of acts of violence.
The
State's attorney in a New Mexican town estimated that
approximately 50 percent of the crimes of violence committed in that city
are attributable to marihuana addicts.
During
the year, the authorities have noted an increasing number of reports regarding
crimes of violence, usually carried out by spectacular methods, committed by
persons while under the influence of marihuana.
The
following cases typify the extent of the marihuana crops found during the year
1936:
LOUISIANA
New
Orleans.-During February 1936 Federal narcotic agent and local police officers
raided the premises of Ampton Stanno an found their entrance to a rear
downstairs door obstructed by strongly reinforced door, in the center of which
was a small slot through which purchasers of marihuana cigarettes would insert
the money and in turn receive cigarettes. When
the officers gained admission through the barred door they found 400 marihuana
cigarette contained in a tin box lying on a table, and near to the cigarette box
small case containing a sum of money and marihuana ready for cigarette wrapping.
Ampton Stanno and Jane Williams, who were found in this house, were
placed under arrest. Robert
Williams, alias Jimmie Smith, was sought as another member of this illicit
marihuana ring but could not be found. A
warrant was issued for his arrest. In
a house to the rear of Stanno's, the police officers found a large pasteboard
box enclosing one bundle which contained about 3 pounds of marihuana, 25 pounds
of marihuana seed and dried marihuana leaves.
Ampton Stanno and Jane Williams were held in bond of $3,000 each.
Williams is now a fugitive from justice.
William
L. Rousseau was arrested by local officers under the provisions of the Louisiana
State narcotic act on August 22, 1936, for growing and possessing marihuana.
Reports had been received that marihuana cigarettes were being sold at
Rousseau's home. While officers
waited outside in automobiles, they observed several addicts approach Rousseau's
door to purchase marihuana cigarettes. Police
found in the kitchen two 1-pound coffee cans full of marihuana cigarettes and
two packages of the narcotic in drying form.
In the yard among four branching trees and growing vegetables were 100
growing marihuana plants about 12 feet tall.
The police destroyed the plants. William
L. Rousseau, father of William A. Rousseau, said that the marihuana had been
planted by his son for the purpose of obtaining seed to feed a pet redbird
belonging to the younger Rousseau.
Bourg
and Houma.-On April 24, 1936, 2,500 marihuana plants growing on an area of about
3 acres, 12 pounds in bulk marihuana, and 67 marihuana cigarettes were seized
and confiscated on a farm near Bourg, La., and five persons were arrested on
charges of violation of the marihuana law. Ralph
Savoise, Mrs. Ralph Savoise, Felix Blanchard, "Cookie" Lanaud, and
David North were growing and selling marihuana cigarettes to oil-field workers and
to school children. Complaints
were made by parents of some of the children to Federal narcotic and local
officers. Extensive investigations
were made until all participants in this illicit traffic at Houma and Bourg were
arrested. A prosecution was
instituted in the parish district court. Conviction,
which is expected, would carry a mandatory penalty of from 20 months to 5 years
each.
La
Fitte.--May 23, 1936, one Machesto Pazini was
arrested for possession of a large quantity of cannabis cigarettes and for
owning 3,000 cannabis plants. Pazini
had been permitting his children to smoke these cigarettes, and their consequent
delusions of grandeur led to the discovery of the cannabis cache.
English
Turn, Plaquemines Parish.---Officers of the Louisiana State police seized and
destroyed large quantities of harvested and dried marihuana on two adjoining
farms at English Turn, Plaquemines Parish, on September 19, 1936.
At the first farm they raided they found about 5,000 stalks lying in a
field and stored in a barn, and also 300 pounds of dried marihuana ready for
smoking. Later, while continuing
their investigations of the farm, the officers discovered 800 pounds of
marihuana stalks which had been harvested from an adjacent tract of land about 7
acres in area. Felix Caserta, about
30 years old, was the owner and occupant of the second farm, which consisted of
about 40 acres. Caserta resided on
the farm with his wife and children. He
admitted that he knew that the plants were marihuana and that he had cut them
down the day previous to the officers raid on his place.
He was arrested on charges of violation of the State uniform narcotic
law. Later Luke Cutrera, farmer, and
Dominic Richarda, who lived on and operated adjacent farms, were arrested for
possession of illicit marihuana. Cutrera
was reported to have been hired by marihuana peddlers to drive quantities of the
narcotic into New Orleans. Stalks,
seeds, and dried marihuana were found in a truck on Cutrera's farm.
Officers destroyed all of the plants in the area in which the marihuana
crop had been harvested. Prosecutions
followed the arrests of these men.
MARYLAND
Baltimore.-On
October 2, 1936, Baltimore City police raided two locations at which several
hundred pounds of green and dried marihuana were stored and arrested Joseph
Martinez and Ruben Sanchez. Further
investigation by local and Federal officers led to discovery of a farm located
near the city where large quantities ,of growing plants were found to have been
cultivated between rows ,of corn, under circumstances leading to a belief that a
carefully planned cultivation of the weed had been carried on for 2 or 3 years
previous. The harvesting of the crop
had been proceeding for several days prior to discovery, trucks carting the
leaves -and tops into Baltimore, where the drying, grinding, and packaging
processes were carried out. The
defendants were convicted and sentenced to jail terms and large quantities of
the growing plants and dried bulk marihuana were confiscated and destroyed.
MICHIGAN
Detroit.-
On September 1 7 1936, 2,500 pounds of marihuana found growing in the backyards
of various houses were confiscated under the Michigan State narcotic law.
The marihuana was burned on an order from the prosecuting attorney of
Flint County. No arrests were made.
MISSISSIPPI
Blue
Mountain.--During April 1936, on a farm 3 miles east of Blue Mountain, Miss.,
evidently used as a supply base for the marihuana traffic in a number of
neighboring States in addition to Mississippi, Federal narcotic agents and State
officers destroyed one of the biggest sources of supply in the South.
Herman S. Jernigan, owner of the farm, was raising marihuana on a large
scale and giving it the same careful attention that a wholesale farmer would
give to the raising of cotton for market delivery.
The raiding party confiscated 3,000 pounds of the -rowing marihuana, 300
pounds of seed, and I,000 pounds of dried marihuana, the latter being contained
in 10 large corrugated boxes which were concealed under hay in a barn.
The area under cultivation was about 5 acres.
New Orleans appeared to be the chief and most profitable market.
Eleven persons arrested there for unlawful marihuana purchases
acknowledged that their supplies had originated at- this farm.
It was reported that school children were sold
marihuana cigarettes from the same source.
This was the first large seizure after enactment of the Mississippi
uniform narcotic drug law on March 16, 1936.
Jernigan was arrested and charged under this law and later released under
a $1,500 bond. His queer actions
were partly responsible for the raid on his farm.
He said lie had become addicted to marihuana 8 years ago.
A brother about 14 years of age is also an addict.
Herman S. Jernigan was sentenced to imprisonment for 60 days and to a
fine of $250.
NEW
JERSEY
Atlantic
City.--Federal, State, and city detectives had received reports that marihuana
cigarettes in varying quantities were being peddled in this vicinity.
On September 5, 1936, they watched an informer make contact with Floyd
Peters, Atlantic City, and purchase two marihuana cigarettes which the informer
turned over to .them. The officers
then raided the premises and found Harry Smith, Joseph Morgano, Elizabeth
Bailey, and Clarence Henry smoking a Turkish water pipe, the bowl of which was
filled with marihuana, John Harper had two marihuana cigarettes on his person
and Floyd Peters attempted to conceal a match box containing marihuana
cigarettes. The officers continued
their search of the premises and found a trunk in which was a bag containing
bulk marihuana. There was also
discovered a glass tube containing pantopon.
One of the officers reported that he had received reports of opium
smoking at this address and was pressing his search for Opium when the marihuana
and pantopon were found. The
defendants were immediately given a hearing in the State court.
Elizabeth Bailey, Clarence Henry, Joseph Morgano, and Harry Smith were
held on $500 bond. Peters was held
without bond and later was sentence to State prison from 4 to 7 years on one
count. Peters stated late that he
had been addicted to the use of marihuana for more than a year and that he had
purchased 2 pounds of the dried marihuana for $35 from a resident of New York
City.
Jersey
City.-October 14, 1936, pursuant to information received by the police
department of Jersey City, N. J., narcotic agents discovered a patch of growing
marihuana in Newark extending from a few feet to a city block in width and
running a distance of about 1 mile. This
patch contained about 65 tons of the marihuana plant, all of which were
destroyed.
NEW
YORK
Barren
Island, Brooklyn.-On September 2, 1936, police uprooted a large number of
marihuana plants growing on a 5-acre field on which milk goats belonging to
squatters in the vicinity were grazing.. The
members of the New York narcotic squad in charge of workers from the department
of health destroyed the plants which appeared to thrive on the sandy soil.
This was said to have been the largest area, of the growing plant ever
found in Brooklyn. On the same date
there were destroyed by local officers 35 pounds of the dried plant which had
been found in a vacant building in Brooklyn.
WASHINGTON
Seattle.-Charles
Banks was arrested on August 30, 1936, by narcotic officers and local detectives
on charges of violation of the State narcotic law after selling 6 ounces of
marihuana to an informer. This
defendant claimed that he had been buying regularly from a man whose name or
address he was unable to furnish the police.
He was arraigned on September 23, 1936, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced
on the same day to 10 years in the penitentiary.
A
complete statistical summary of cannabis or marihuana seizures will be found in
the appendix as table 4-A.
MARIHUANA
CRIMES[5]
The
following summary of cases illustrates the homicidal tendencies and the
generally debasing effects which arise from the use of marihuana:
A
citizen of Alamosa, Colo., stated that there had been scores of cases of violent
and petty crimes and insanity in southern Colorado in recent years incited by
the use of marihuana. Local official
there have been seriously aroused about the, problem.
Following
a series of crimes in Huerfano County, Colo., attributed to marihuana cigarette
smokers, chief of which was an attack on the sheriff by a marihuana user which
nearly resulted in the officer's death, local officers uprooted 75 pounds of
marihuana from one plot.
In
October 1936, the chief engineer of a vessel arriving at Baltimore complained to
the Federal narcotic office that the crew of his
vessel were using some unknown narcotic that was so virulent in
its effects on the men that the officers were obliged to protect themselves by
carrying blackjacks to ward off attacks. The
narcotic agent made an extensive investigation and ascertained that a fireman,
aged 22, was a marihuana user, and that two of the seamen on the ship had
purchased a bag of dried marihuana while ashore in the Canal Zone and smuggled
it aboard the ship where it was consumed by members of the crew.
Officers of the steamer said these men were “under the influence of
this narcotic throughout the trip to Baltimore and that their conduct bordered
on the mutinous."
William Barnett of Chicago, ILL., was arrested for
the possession of marihuana. At the
time of Barnett's arrest he was in possession of a letter from Pete Gurralo,
alias Joseph Fierro, of Mankato, Minn., offering to furnish marihuana in any
quantity from 1 pound up. On
September 22, 1936, Balli, alias Tom Gurrola, killed a man at Albert Lea, Minn.
Following the murder he escaped from prison and fled to the farm of his
father. He was identical with the
man who offered to supply marihuana to Barnett.
When the officer went to the farm to apprehend him, he found 6 or 7
bushels of marihuana contained in a sack and two cardboard boxes, and concealed
under a haystack.
A
young man in Baltimore, Md., was sentenced to be hanged for criminal assault on
a 10-year-old girl. In his plea of
not guilty he testified that he was temporarily insane from smoking marihuana
cigarettes.
A
man was killed in Wilmington, Del., by one Pettyjohn.
When the police attempted to arrest Pettyjolin for the crime lie attacked
the police with a long knife. To
protect their lives, the police officers shot and killed Pettyjohn.
On
the same date one Cleveland Hodge was arrested in Wilmington for possession of
about 3 pounds of marihuana. Hodge
said he had gathered the plant from a plot of ground used by Rhodes, the man who
was murdered as above described, and further stated that Rhodes had told him
about the weed, which he called "weaver weed"; that if a tea was made
from it, it would cure rheumatism. Hodge
said he used a cup of this tea three times a day and had done so for a long
time; and both Rhodes and Pettyjohn were apparently under the influence of
marihuana. This case was prosecuted
in Delaware under the Uniform State Narcotic Act.
Police
in Columbus, Ohio were called upon to investigate a disturbance on a public
street, where a young man, Howard Horn, was menacing citizens with a pistol.
The officer, while attempting to subdue Horn, was attacked by him and
wounded three times. He was obliged
to return the fire to save his own life 7 and Horn was killed instantly.
Investigation by the vice squad showed that Horn, who was 19 years of
age, was a marihuana addict and at the time of his attack on the officer was
under the influence of this narcotic.
The,
district attorney of Santa Fe, N. Mex., and an investigator for the New Mexico
State police seized 1.5 pounds of dried marihuana on February 10, 1936.
On February 9 a murder was committed by two men addicted to the use of
marihuana. One of these assaulted
the arresting officers with a gain at the time of arrest.
From this source of supply represented by the foregoing seizure it was
believed that the perpetrators of these crimes secured the illicit marihuana.
Seven arrests resulted from the murder and marihuana cases, and five
convictions were obtained, the other two being released on bail of $1,500 each.
After
a 15-year-old boy was found mentally deranged from smoking marihuana cigarettes
be furnished information that led to the arrest of three men who admitted making
sales of the cigarettes. Fifteen to
eighteen pounds of marihuana were seized from their garage.
At the time officers stated that there were 20 known addicts of high
school age, in the Ohio town. The
men arrested allegedly told the officer that they had become alarmed several
months previous to their arrest when the youths appeared abnormal and began
annoying them for heavier supplies. The
apprehension of this gang cleared up a serious situation.
In
Columbus, Ohio, a 35-year-old man was sentenced to the electric chair for
robbery and first-degree murder of a hotel clerk.
His plea of not guilty was based on insanity due to smoking
marihuana cigarettes and the fact that he was under the influence of marihuana
when the crime was committed.
A
seizure of 115 marihuana cigarettes was made in New Orleans, La., at which time
the owner, foiled by officers in an attempt to shoot himself, grabbed a butcher
knife and stabbed himself three times above the heart.
He escaped, and was later found, and had in his possession an ice pick,
with which he attempted to destroy himself when placed under arrest.
He made a second escape.
In
New Jersey a particularly brutal murder occurred, in which case one young man
killed another, literally smashing his face and head to a pulp.
One of the defenses was that the defendant's intellect was so prostrated
from his smoking marihuana cigarettes that he did not know what he was doing.
The defendant was found guilty and sentenced to a long term of years.
The, prosecutor was convinced that marihuana had been indulged in; that
the smoking had occurred; and that the brutality of the murder was accounted for
by the narcotic, though the defendant's intellect had not been totally
prostrate.
A
gang of seven young men, all under 20 years of age, who for more than 2 months
terrorized central Ohio with a series of about 38 stick-ups, were
arrested in Columbus, Ohio, on robbery charges.
They confessed that they operated while "high" on marihuana.
One
of the youths admitted that he had smoked "reefers" on and off for at
least 2 years, and said that when he went with the others on stick-ups he was
"ready to tear anybody apart" who opposed him.
He claimed the practice of smoking marihuana first started among his
friends about 4 or 5 years previously, while most of them were still in high
school. In describing his crimes he
said: "If I had killed somebody on a job, I'd never have known it."
This was verified by the officer obtaining the confessions, who explained that
the hardest problem was to get these youths to remember who committed the
stick-ups, or when or where they, happened.
When police told them how a filling-station attendant reported a robber
threatened to beat his brains out with a revolved butt, one admitted he was the
robber, but had forgotten his own words.
It
was almost impossible for them to break off the habit when they could still get
"tea" so easily, they claimed. "When
you try to break off you get jumpy, your hands shake, and you hear the least
little noise. A dopey feeling comes
when you're going down, and you get mopey. You
get so you smoke a 'stick' a day, and you can't stop.
[3]
As of July 1, 1937.
[4]
The Marihuana Tax Act, bringing the traffic In marihuana under Federal Control,
was signed by the President on Aug. 2, to become effective Oct. 1, 1937.. -
15380-37-5
[5]
The Bureau of Narcotics is not in possession of full details regarding some of
these
cases
which were not reported in connection with seizures of the drug.
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1938 (page 14)
MARIHUANA (Cannabis sativa
L.)
Marihuana
was seized in all of the areas under review with the exception of the Panama
Canal Zone and the Philippine Islands; or in a total of 40 of the 48 States
within the continental limits of the United States, and in the Territory of
Hawaii. (See table 3-C.)
There
was some smuggling, but due to the ease with which the plant can be cultivated
domestically, it was negligible. Cases
only occasionally involved interstate transportation.
The
abuse of marihuana in this country consists principally in the smoking, for the
narcotic effect, of the resinous flowering tops and crushed portions of the
plant, rolled into cigarettes. The
price of such cigarettes ranges from 5 cents to $1.66 each, the average price in
most areas being approximately 20 to 25 cents each.
In Hawaii, the price averaged about 75 cents each.
==
== ==
== (page 45)
ILLICIT
TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA [2] (Cannabis Sativa,
L.)
The
enactment during 1937 of national legislation covering marihuana enables the
Federal Government to deal with the traffic in this drug in the same effective
manner as it deals with opium and coca leaves and their derivatives.
Considerable progress was made during the year in dealing with the
marihuana traffic, which constitutes a serious enforcement problem.
The traffic in this drug is separate and distinct except in isolated
instances from the traffic in other drugs, both as to sellers and users.
During
the year Federal officers reported 1,191 violations of the Marihuana Tax Act,
involving 1,542 seizures of marihuana in various forms, and 1,088 arrests.
The total number of seizures reported by Federal and State officers
during the year amounted to 1,611. These
involved 3,978 kg. 404 gm. of bulk marihuana, 1,216 kg. 919 gm. of marihuana
seeds, 18,712 marihuana cigarettes, and approximately 43,155 plants.
In addition the Federal Government, in cooperation with State and
municipal enforcement agencies throughout the country, conducted a program of
marihuana eradication involving approximately 54,092 metric tons of marihuana
growing on 9,589 hectares of land, of which 29,438.5 metric tons growing on
5,218.7 hectares of land were definitely reported to have been destroyed.
All
48 States of the Union and the Territory of Hawaii have control legislation of
some nature on marihuana.
Many
State and city officers throughout the country have been quick to realize the
dangers of the drug, and have taken hold of marihuana enforcement problems in a
most commendable manner. Numerous
police departments have been educating their forces in the, recognition of the
marihuana plant. There have also
been initiated numerous independent local campaigns to eradicate the plant from
vacant lots and backyards in various localities where it has been found growing.
The
widespread dissemination of educational material during the year is bringing
forcibly before the notice of the people the extremely pernicious effects of
marihuana smoking and the necessity for eradicating it.
Unquestionably
these combined efforts have materially discouraged any attempt to organize the
illicit traffic on a large scale. (Unlike other drugs, marihuana is not
generally handled by well-organized distributing syndicates.) The authorities,
however, feel obliged to pay special attention to marihuana law violations.
One of the most disturbing elements in connection with the illegal use of
this drug is its potential danger to a different group.
Young people not previously contaminated with drugs appear to be
especially susceptible to the marihuana smoking practice.
Smuggling.---There
was some petty smuggling of marihuana into the United States by seamen on
vessels touching at Central and South American ports.
Several of the most important of such cases, grouped by the ports at
which they occurred, are as follows:
NEW
YORK, N. Y.
On
September 27, 1938, customs officers at New York City discovered five bags
containing I kg. 765 gm., net, of marihuana concealed on the steamship Orizaba
coming from Veracruz. Enrique
Almestica, fireman on the vessel, was arrested and was subsequently sentenced to
6 months imprisonment.
A
second marihuana seizure, amounting to 1 kg. 644 gm., was made on the steamship
Orizaba by customs officers at New York City on October 19, 1938.
The case is still pending.
On
December 28, 1938, a customs guard at New York found in a ventilator in the
steward's washroom of the steamship Brazil, coming from Buenos Aires, via
Santos, Rio de Janeiro, and Trinidad, a package of marihuana, weighing 280 gm.,
net. Customs agents investigating
the seizure were informed by certain crew members of the vessel that the
marihuana belonged to Miguel Aponte, steward.
A search of this person revealed one marihuana cigarette.
Another marihuana cigarette was found in his looker.
The prisoner stated that he was a marihuana smoker and that the
cigarettes were for his own use. However,
he claimed that he knew nothing about the marihuana found in the ventilator, nor
would he divulge its origin. The
defendant is being held for prosecution.
BALTIMORE,
MD.
On
October 31, 1938, customs officers at Baltimore, Md., seized 1 kg. 899 gm., net,
of marihuana from Augustine Rios and Joe Rodrigues, seamen on the Brazilian
steamship Parnahyba coming from Santos. Subsequently,
sentences of 2 years were imposed on each of the defendants.
Internal
traffic.---Few of the cases of internal traffic reported under the Marihuana Tax
Act are of sufficient international interest to be set out in detail.
A number of cases involving violations of this act or the various state
laws for the control of marihuana, are summarized in the succeeding paragraphs
under headings indicating the localities in which they occurred.
NEW
YORK, N. Y.
Among
important cases developed during the year concerning interstate distribution was
that against one Jose Samaniego and others. The
principals were residents of New York City.
They learned that large supplies of marihuana were available in southern
Minnesota and sent to that territory. Marihuana
prepared for smoking was subsequently shipped from Minnesota to New York and to
Chicago, ILL., where it was distributed in the illicit traffic.
Records obtained in the investigation indicated that approximately 294
kg. 835 gm. of marihuana prepared for smoking had been distributed in New York
by this organization. As a result of
the investigation, two persons were convicted in Minnesota, two in Chicago, and
six were convicted at New York City.
NEWPORT,
KY.
On
February 24, 1938, police officers of Newport, Ky., arrested Ralph Bridowell for
the possession of stolen property. While
searching his premises they found a total of 8 kg. 306 gm. of marihuana, to
which he acknowledged ownership and claimed to have purchased it from a man
whose name he did not know. On
February 25, 1938, his brother, Harry Bridewell, was arrested for the sale of
marihuana cigarettes. Both pleaded
guilty and each was sentenced to serve a term of 5 years in the Penitentiary.
Each had previously served a penitentiary term for violations of the
liquor laws.
NEW
ORIEANS, LA.
Investigations
conducted in New Orleans during the months of April to July 1938, resulted in a
series of purchases of marihuana cigarettes from 13 members of the Albano gang
and the securing of evidence against another member of the gang.
On August 18, 1938, the grand jury returned indictments against 14 of
these individuals, 12 of whom either were convicted or pleaded guilty, and
received sentences ranging from 17 months to 3 years.
Two of the defendants have not been apprehended.
After
having made purchases of marihuana cigarettes from all four members of a ring of
marihuana traffickers during the period from May 10 to July 7, 1938, narcotic
officers arrested Russel Saia, Anthony Cangimilla, and Ralph LaCoste.
Saia and Canogimilla were tried, convicted, and each sentenced to 30
months in the penitentiary. LaCoste
pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 17 months.
Roy Saia, the fourth member of the ring, is under indictment but has not
yet been apprehended.
COLUMBUS,
OHIO
On
April 24, 1938, William Bronston was observed by narcotic and police officers as
he was about to make a sale of marihuana from his automobile parked at the rear
of 387 Charles Street, Columbus. Seeing
the officers he leaped from the car, ran down the alley and escaped.
The marihuana concealed in his car, consisting of about 227 gm. was
seized. Officers entered the
premises and arrested Thomas Claridy who was in possession of marihuana
cigarettes. William Bronston was
subsequently arrested after a hard fight and gun battle, he being under the
influence of marihuana at the time. He
was tried and convicted on June 7, 1938, and received a sentence of 5 years and
$1,000 fine. The case against
Claridy was ordered nolle prossed by the court.
MEMPHIS,
TENN.
On
October 4, 1938, police officers of Memphis, Tenn., received information that
Joe Lang, Orlando Hodge, and Mary Jones were planning to rob Mary Jones' aunt
and with the proceeds therefrom to proceed to Chicago for the purpose of selling
marihuana. They were arrested on the
same date and 411 gm. of marihuana and 147 marihuana cigarettes were seized.
They admitted that they had procured the marihuana on a plantation in
Mississippi about 50 miles from Memphis, and divided it, and they had planned
after committing the robbery to take the marihuana to Chicago and sell it.
On October 14, 1938, all three pleaded guilty.
Hodge and Lang each received a sentence of 3 years and $1,000 fine, both
having previous criminal records. Mary
Jones was placed on probation for 3 years.
VI.
Other Information. (page 49)
EDUCATIONAL WORK
Much
effort has been expended during the year on preventive educational work,
particularly regarding the abuse of marihuana.
In regard to education of. this type, it is felt that if the material is
not very carefully worked out there might be grave danger of creating curiosity
among the youth which would have a tendency to be harmful rather than
beneficial; in fact, it is thought that marihuana educational talks should be
confined to adults, who in turn can properly inform their own children.
It
is considered wise to guard against the danger of persons not fully conversant
with the question broadcasting lectures and information on narcotic drugs.
Too much stress cannot be laid on the importance of obtaining the
cooperation of persons who can speak with authority on the subject, and in such
manner that no element of curiosity or desire to experiment could possibly be
aroused in the minds of listeners as to the nonmedical use of drugs.
The public response has evidenced appreciation and support of this trend,
and great assistance has been rendered by various women's organizations,
particularly by the National Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, the General Federation of Women's Clubs, and the numerous
parent-teacher organizations throughout the country in the widespread
dissemination of educational material on illicit use of narcotic drugs.
There
has been increased demand for speakers and for written information on the
narcotic and marihuana problems, manifesting an active desire on the part of
many worthy civic organizations and citizens to be of assistance.
Over
150 addresses were delivered, on request, by various supervisory officials of
the Bureau to organizations throughout the country such as the various medical
associations, various police schools and State police training schools, the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the American Legion, various churches,
hospital groups, and lodges, Kiwanis, Rotary, and other clubs, colleges of
pharmacy and science, parent-teacher associations, Associations of University
Women, Peace Officers' Training Schools, Peace Officers Associations, and other
interested groups.
The
Commissioner of Narcotics personally fulfilled a number of lecture engagements
before national groups on the narcotic problem.
As of interest, there is quoted below the text of an address before the
Eighth Annual Forum on Current Problem Facing America, held under the auspices
of the New York Herald-Tribune in New York City during October 1938:
The
speech by Honorable H. J. Anslinger, Federal Commissioner of Narcotics, on
THE IMPORTANCE OF COOPERATION IN NARCOTIC WORK AND THE
GOVERNMENT’S FIGHT ON MARIHUANA
This
Forum is a fitting place to review your Government's progress in suppressing the
abuse of dangerous drugs. For over a
quarter of a century, the American Government has waged a relentless fight.
We were the first to issue a call to other nations of the world for
cooperation in suppressing the international illicit traffic.
It is gratifying to review the growth of this humanitarian movement from
the first consultation at Shanghai in 1909 among six great powers of the world
to a cordial cooperation which now embraces the entire group of civilized
nations. It is inspiring to know
that this is one problem on which all nations have agreed to work together, with
definite results, for the betterment of mankind.
So,
largely through American leadership, all nations have joined in a worldwide
union for the protection not only of their own citizens but of the whole race
against this common enemy. With this
solemn object in mind, international covenants containing strict pledges for
national legislation and international cooperation are contained in The Hague
Convention of 1912 and the Narcotic Limitation Convention of 1931.
The 1931 treaty, ratified by 63 nations, represents the most stupendous
blow that has ever been dealt the international illicit traffic in narcotics.
This commitment cut surplus manufacture in other countries which had been
feeding our illicit traffic by 30 tons annually and reduced addiction throughout
the world.
In
time, by striking at the root of the evil, we hope to achieve---through
international cooperation---world limitation of the production of raw opium.
Thus it will be possible to enter upon a new and important stage in the
suppression of the abuse of narcotic drugs.
.Just
as the American Government led the nations to international action, it has taken
the leadership in getting at the basic truth of drug addiction, and in
rehabilitating the unfortunate addict, particularly those of emotional
instability who use drugs as a cowardly retreat from reality.
In Federal institutions at Lexington, Ky., at Fort Worth, Tex., and at
Alderson, W. Va., disintoxication, rehabilitation, and social adjustment go
forward at great pains and at justified expense.
The addict's economic drag on communities is thus removed.
The Treasury Department's research work on drug addiction has attracted
the admiration of the entire world. We
are gradually loosening the grip of a cruel slave master.
Now we have reduced addiction to opium and its derivatives to about one
nonmedical drug addict in every 3,000 of the general population, as against the
one in every 1,000 that we found in this country some years ago.
Our
Government has carefully worked out a control program on narcotic drugs
Which
includes:
1.
Close international cooperation
with all countries. No nation
standing alone can cope with the problem.
2.
Effective control of the manufacture and distribution of narcotic drugs
for medical needs.
3.
Treasury Department coordination of Coast Guard, Customs, and Narcotic
Bureaus to curtail smuggling and the illicit traffic.
4.
Complete cooperation with all States, 40 of which have enacted the
Uniform State Narcotic Drug Act.
5.
Federal rehabilitation hospitals for the treatment of drug addiction and
to remove causative factors of addiction.
Due
to this well-woven pattern, thousands of potential youthful recruits to
narcotics, such as opium, morphine, heroin, and cocaine, have been prevented
from entering the slavery of narcotic addiction.
MARIHUANA
In
the fight against narcotics, each victory leads to a new field of battle.
Our most recent enemy is marihuana, the use of which as a narcotic was
virtually unknown in the United States a decade ago.
Out on the battlefront we must ask the actual help of every person.
It is a new peril---in some ways the worst we have met and it concerns us
all.
About
1935, we were stunned with the rapid wildfire spread of this drug; and by the
following year it had become such a major menace as to call for the enactment of
national-control legislation. Nearly
every State had suffered from the insidious invasion of this drug.
It spread to new circles not previously contaminated by drug addiction;
to young impressionable people.
LEGISLATION
We
urged and obtained marihuana legislation in all of the 48 States.
Then to coordinate the problem Congress passed the Marihuana Tax Act of
1937, bringing the drug under Federal control.
This
new law requires all persons dealing with the drug in any way to register with
the Government and pay a special tax. It
restricts the use of marihuana, or hemp, to industrial, medical, and scientific
purposes. Violations are punishable
by 5 years imprisonment.
We
are studying the practicability of having marihuana brought within control as a
noxious weed, thus giving municipal authorities an additional eradication
weapon.
HISTORY
AND EFFECTS
The
origin of marihuana is shrouded in the mists of antiquity.
For centuries, it has been a problem in many parts of the world.
Homer was its prophet, Marco Polo its advance courier.
Abroad it is called Kif, Dagga, Bhang, Charas, Ganja, and Hashish.
In the argot of the underworld it has colloquial, colorful names such as
reefers, muggles, hay.
Marihuana
destroys mental fabric; insanity frequently results from its continued use.
Our only way of testing it is to try it on dogs.
If the dog's legs get tangled up, the drug is potent.
If you go on giving the dog marihuana, his brain is destroyed.
Unlike
opium, which is the good in Jekyll and the bad in Hyde, marihuana is Hyde only.
The medical profession, which knows it as
Cannabis sativa, has practically abandoned its use because of its
unpredictability and extreme variability of effect.
It depresses, it stimulates, it turns wrong into right, it incites to
violence. It distorts speech,
vision, hearing, space, and time. No
one can foretell the result of its use.
PREVALENCE
AND USES
The
plant has been found growing wild along river beds, along the roadside, in
vacant lots. Sometimes illicit
growth is camouflaged by planting it in the midst of cornfields, but marihuana
soon raises its head above the corn.
Ordinary
hemp is the same plant as marihuana. Hemp
is cultivated for the production of fiber, and has been known in America since
1630; while the name "marihuana" has only recently been applied to the
same hemp plant in connection with its abuse as a narcotic.
It is incorrectly termed "loco weed."
During
1937 hemp, or marihuana, was legitimately grown on many acres in Illinois,
Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, for fiber and seeds.
The fruits or seeds of the plant form a constituent of commercial oil and
bird food, but before it can be used as bird food all hemp seed must now be
sterilized to destroy its germinating power.
This is done for the reason that most of the present wild growth is due
to birdseed dissemination.
IDENTIFICATION
AND RESEARCH
The
plant is tall, stately; an object of beauty, sometimes called a Green
Goddess, but in that beauty there lurks a coiled
rattlesnake.
Until
recently, the definition of Cannabis sativa (marihuana) in the International
Convention and in all State laws was based upon the traditional conception that
the active principle of the drug is present only in the flowering tops of the
female or pistillate plant. Recent
chemical tests show that the active principle up to 50 percent is contained in
the leaves of the male or staminate plant. The
definition of marihuana in legislation must, therefore, be made all inclusive.
Little
is known about the chemistry of the narcotic principle which causes damage.
The Treasury Department is conducting intensive studies and research
investigations on the isolation and structure determination of the active
constituents occurring in Cannabis sativa as well as its effects on the human
being. Several universities are
helping in this program. The Federal
Government is also cooperating with committees set up by the League of Nations
to conduct research and study abuses.
We
gladly furnish aid to various States in educating enforcement agents and State
and municipal chemists concerning marihuana and its identification.
ENFORCEMENT
We
have (as of October 1, 1938) arrested 1,000 illicit traffickers of this drug
since October 1, 1937, the date Federal legislation went into effect.
This measure will prove an effective weapon in combating the illicit
traffic. Courts have dealt severely
with these traffickers who poison their fellow man for gain and crush his
spirit. Judges
sometimes brand such peddlers as being worse than murderers.
With
the cooperation of city, county, and State officials throughout the country
during the past 4 months, we have destroyed 16,000 tons of marihuana or
approximately 10,000 acres distributed over nearly every State in the Union.
In several years we shall have destroyed the major growth.
In accomplishing this enormous task our Government has removed a great
potential danger to the health and welfare of the youth of our land.
CONCLUSION
Law
enforcement is the responsibility of the Federal and local police.
The duty of cooperation in this work is yours also.
If you have sound reason to believe that marihuana is being used or sold
illegally; if you know of a tract of land where it grows or is being cultivated
contrary to law; you should report these infractions to the police authorities.
The
Bureau of Narcotics will gladly test any plants which are suspect.
If we cannot send an agent, we will give proper guidance as to
destruction. We urge you to
familiarize yourselves with the appearance of the plant and to be on the watch
for it everywhere.
The
abuse of marihuana can be stamped out through correct preventive educational
work. You can do this without
sensationalism. If youth is properly
informed about the dangers of marihuana, that knowledge should not invite
experimentation. You must pledge
yourselves to the task of preventive education.
The time to stamp out marihuana is now---before it places an indelible
stamp upon the easily molded mentality of our youth, who seem to be its chief
victims. Here is a challenge to
every right-thinking person! A
challenge which dares anyone to be so remiss as to stand idle against this
menace.
I
wish heartily to commend the many officers of the General Federation of Women's
Clubs, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and parent-teacher organizations
throughout the land on the admirable stand they have taken toward enlightenment
of the public and breaking down general apathy and indifference regarding the
sordid traffic in contraband drugs. I
believe that informed public opinion is the most powerful weapon with which to
fight this dangerous public enemy.
The
Bureau of Narcotics has furnished assistance to various States toward educating
enforcement agencies and State and city chemists and police organizations
concerning the identification of marihuana.
It is considered very important that all police officers be instructed as
to the recognition of marihuana and the marihuana plant.
== == ==
==(see Graph page 56)
== ==
== == (page 58)
B. RAW
MATERIALS
IX.
Marihuana (Cannabis sativa L., Indian Hemp).
During
the year 1938 hemp was grown on about 534 hectares in the States of Kentucky and
Wisconsin for seeds and fiber. Of
this approximately 480 hectares were grown in the State of Wisconsin for fiber,
mainly for cordage purposes. The
crop grown in Kentucky was cultivated for both the fiber and seed, approximately
37 hectares being grown for fiber and 17 for seed.
The production of hemp seed amounted to approximately 10,250 kg.
No
one registered during the year to grow the plant for the flowering or fruiting
tops for the production of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
It is not believed that the plant will be cultivated for this purpose in
view of the tax of $1 an ounce which is imposed under the act on the
transfer of the flowering tops, the whole plants, or any extracts or
preparations made therefrom.
Importations
of hemp seed during 1938 totaled 233,276 kg. 861 gm. as compared to 216,416 kg.
303 gm. during 1937. While the
importations for 1938 are slightly in excess of 1937 they are still far below
those made during 1936 when 28,536,334 kg. 930 gm. of seeds were imported.
The internal-revenue tax of 2 cents per pound, effective August 21, 1936,
on the importation of these seeds remained in effect during 1938.
The importations of hemp seed during the years 1930 to 1938 are shown in
table 10-A in the appendix.
The
Federal supervision of the authorized production and distribution of hemp for
industrial and medicinal purposes is accomplished by a control of production
exercised through a system of annual returns covering the essential details of
cultivation, harvesting, and production; a control of the distribution by
producers, manufacturers, and dealers exercised through a similar system of
monthly and quarterly returns required of manufacturers and dealers, covering
complete details of all transactions involving manufacture, purchase, sale or
transfer, and a system of serially numbered official order forms or
certifications of the collector of internal revenue, required before any
transfer of such products can be made; and a control of dispensing for medicinal
purposes exercised through official inspections of the records of druggists and
practitioners.
As
a basic qualification for engaging in the international trade either as importer
or exporter, one must be registered in the appropriate classification under the
Marihuana Tax Act. With respect to
importations, in addition to being so registered the importer must in each case
present to the collector of customs at the port of entry a document issued by
the collector of internal revenue of the district showing that an official order
form for the procurement of the marihuana has been issued and that the transfer
tax of $1 per ounce has been paid, except that hemp seeds may be imported by a
registered importer without the use of official order forms or payment of
transfer tax, but such importer must present to the collector of customs a
certificate issued by the collector of internal revenue for the district showing
him to be properly registered and thereby qualified to import such seeds.
With
respect to exportations to countries which regulate the importation of cannabis,
in addition to being registered as a manufacturer, producer, or dealer or being
qualified as an official of the Federal or a State Government, the exporter must
procure a permit from the Commissioner of Narcotics authorizing the exportation,
and the application for the export authorization must be accompanied by an
import permit issued by the Government of the country of destination or other
evidence that the applicant has complied with the requirements of the laws and
regulations of such country with respect to the proposed shipment.
Exportations to countries which do not regulate such importations, while
not specifically prohibited, are subject to the transfer tax of $100 per ounce
or fraction thereof on the total quantity of the drug or preparation exported,
and it is not expected that any such exportations will be made.
As
a basic qualification for engaging in the internal trade, one must be registered
in one or more of the five classes specified in the act.
Every person who imports, manufactures, produces, compounds, sells, deals
in, dispenses, prescribes, administers, or gives away marihuana, unless an
official of the Federal or State Government dispensing marihuana in the course
of his official duty, is therefore required to register with the collector of
internal revenue for the district -his name and place of business, and to pay an
occupational tax, the amount of which is determined by the type of business
conducted. Such registration must be
renewed and the occupational tax paid annually.
Those
registered in the first class include importers, manufacturers, and compounders
of marihuana.
The
second class of registrants is composed of producers.
The
third class of registrants is composed of dealers.
The fourth class of registrants is composed of
physicians, dentists, veterinary surgeons, and other practitioners.
The
fifth class of registrants is composed of producers, and other persons, other
than importers, manufacturers, producers, and compounders, who use marihuana in
a laboratory for the purpose of research, instruction, or analysis.
On
June 30, 1938, there were 13 persons or firms registered in class 1, 371 in
class 2, 1,179 in class 3, 2,097 in class 4, and 5 in class 5.
RESEARCH
WORIK ON MARIHUANA [3]
Conducted
during 1938 by the Bureau of Narcotics Laboratory
The
intensive research work on Cannabis saliva initiated by the Bureau of Narcotics
laboratory during 1937, was continued during 1938.
On April 30, 1938 a plot of Cannabis was planted on the lowlands of the
Department of Agriculture Experimental Farm (in cooperation with the United
States Department of Agriculture), in Arlington, Va., which was adjacent to the
plot planted for the 1937 investigation. The
plot consisted of 12 rows, 3 1/4 feet apart and 130 feet long, the inner 10 rows
being divided into 10 parts each, thus forming 100 sections, 96 of which were
utilized for planting the 6 agronomic varieties studied.
Each variety was planted in 16 scattered plots.
Early
growth was slow, presumably due to drought.
Some male plants began flowering when only 18 inches tall, but all
continued to grow as the season progressed to an average height of 9 feet.
By
June 10 male flowers began to appear among the Roumanian varieties, and by July
28 the sex of all plants was apparent. By
September the males were fast being denuded.
The varieties planted were seed from Roumania, Manchuria, China, and
Italy.
The
researches undertaken by the laboratories of the Bureau have been directed
toward the ultimate development of unimpeachable methods for the qualitative and
quantitative testing of the physiological active principle or principles of
cannabis, and, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture
toward the ultimate development of a strain of industrially useful hemp which
would be innocuous from a narcotic standpoint.
In
outlining the strict test requirements referred to, it is recognized that where
plant material itself is available for examination suitable methods for
qualitative identification are at hand. This
is not true of substances extracted from the plant.
Methods
at present available, especially the alkaline Beam test, have been studied and
found wanting. The chemical
character of the active principle is unknown and must be disclosed before
progress may be certain.
The
contribution made during 1938 by the Bureau of Narcotics laboratory in pursuance
of the outlined objectives, clarifies certain controversial questions and shows
that---
1.
Petroleum ether is not the only solvent useful in making Beam tests.
2.
The male Cannabis plant responds to the alkaline Beam test with frequency
and intensity equal to that of the female.
3.
Heating Cannabis resin above 45°-50°
C. does not destroy physiological activity.
4.
It does not appear possible to assay the physiological activity of
Cannabis by intensity of response to the alkaline Beam test.
5.
The substance responsive to the alkaline Beam test is elaborated
at all stages of growth of the Cannabis plant.
6.
In
the research looking toward development of a strain of hemp free from narcotic
activity, a project of Cannabis plant breeding was studied which is at present
dependent on alkaline Beam test results. It
is recognized that these are probably not significant of physiological potency
but the results may prove useful in predicting the course of future experiments
when reliable assay methods become available.
In the study of conditions governing capacity to
respond to the alkaline Beam test, it was noted that a great variation in
capacity to respond to the alkaline Beam test occurs between different agronomic
varieties of Cannabis. Individual
plants of three Roumanian varieties and one Italian variety responded far more
frequently and intensely than did either Manchurian or Chinese.
Relative
to the isolation and characterization of the active principle or principles of
Cannabis, it is pointed out that Cannabis resin is being separated into
fractions by molecular (high vacuum) distillation and that certain of such
fractions are decidedly more potent than the original resin.
[2]
For information regarding legitimate cultivation see IX, Marihuana (Hemp).
[3]
Copies of a detailed report on this work have been furnished to the League of
Nations for distribution to the members of the Opium Advisory Committee.
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1939 (page 19)
MARIHUANA (Cannabis sativa
L.)
Cannabis.---The
Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 provides for Federal control of cannabis and it's
preparations, and the regulations issued under that act have provided for export
authorizations for such products. However,
no authorizations were issued for the exportation of cannabis or its
preparations during 1939. Importations
of cannabis are subject to a revenue transfer tax, generally regarded as
prohibitive, and it is not expected that any commercial importations of cannabis
or its preparations as covered by the international conventions will be made.
One importation of a quantity of charas from India for chemical research
purposes by the Bureau of Narcotics Laboratory was authorized and accomplished
during the year.
== ==
== (page23)
MARIHUANA
(Cannabis sativa, L.)
Marihuana
was seized and eradicated by Federal or State authorities in all of the areas
under review with the exception of the Philippine Islands; or in a total of 44
of the 48 States within the continental limits of the United States, and in the
Territory of Hawaii. (See tables 3-C, 3-D, and 4.)
There
was an increase in petty smuggling of marihuana into the United States, but due
to the ease with which the plant can be cultivated domestically, it was of
relatively small importance. Cases
only occasionally involved interstate transportation.
The
abuse of marihuana in this country consists principally in the smoking, for the
narcotic effect, of the resinous flowering tops and crushed portions of the
plant, rolled into cigarettes. The
price of the cigarettes ranges from 10 cents to $1 each and the bulk marihuana
from $30 to $100 per pound.
== ==
== == (page 28)
COMPARISON
OF NARCOTIC DRUG LAW VIOLATORS IN FEDERAL PRISONS WITH TOTAL PRISON POPULATION
It
is noteworthy that for every agent in the narcotic field service, there are
confined in the Federal penitentiaries and other institutions more than 12
convicted narcotic and marihuana law violators.
This is a high record. Many
of these convicts have some of the worst criminal records in the United States
for major crimes.
On
June 30, 1939, there were 21,756 persons confined in institutions other than
United States Public Health Service Hospitals at Lexington, Ky., and Fort Worth,
Tex., for convictions of Federal offenses, 20,754 being males and 1,002 females.
Of this total, 2,167 were serving sentences imposed for violations of the
Federal narcotic drug laws, 1,775 being males and 392 females, and 547 were
serving sentences imposed for violations of the Federal Marihuana
Tax Act, 523 being males and 24 females. (See table 5-A.)
On
June 30, 1939, there were 1,086 convicted narcotic drug law violators and 35
marihuana law violators in confinement at the United States Public Health
Service Hospitals at Lexington, Ky., and Ft. Worth, Tex., undergoing treatment
looking toward cures of their addiction, all these men having been transferred
to the hospitals from Federal penitentiaries.
On the same date there were, out of a total of 578 female prisoners, 265
narcotic drug and marihuana law violators confined in the Federal Industrial
Institution for Women at Alderson, W. Va.
SEIZURES AND VIOLATIONS
A
comparative statement of seizures, violations, and general enforcement
statistics under the Federal narcotic drug laws for the 9-year period from 1931
to 1939, inclusive, will be found in the appendix as table 1-C.
The
quantities of narcotic drugs seized under the Narcotic Drugs Import and Export
Act and customs laws and under the Federal internal revenue narcotic laws are
also shown in the appendix in tables 3 and 3-A.
Seizures under the Marihuana Tax Act by Federal officers and under local
laws by State and municipal officers are shown in tables 3-C and 4.
==
== == (page 54)
ILLICIT
TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA [6] (Cannabis Sativa, L.)
Since
the enactment of Federal control legislation in 1937, considerable progress has
been made towards a solution of the Nation-wide marihuana problem.
Except in isolated instances, the traffic in this drug is separate and
distinct from the traffic in other drugs, both as to sellers and users.
During
the year 1939 Federal officers reported 951 violations of the Marihuana Tax Act,
involving 1,545 seizures of marihuana in various forms, and 864 arrests.
The total number of seizures reported by Federal and State officers
during the year amounted to 1,834. These
involved 23,289 kg. 606 gm. of bulk marihuana, 34 841 gm. of marihuana seeds,
22,567 marihuana cigarettes, and approximately 930,880 plants.
In addition the Federal Government, in cooperation with State and
municipal enforcement agencies throughout the country, conducted a program of
marihuana eradication involving approximately 9,026 metric tons of marihuana
growing on 4,542 hectares of land, of which 6,748 metric tons growing on 2,633
hectares of land were definitely reported to have been destroyed.
It has been estimated that the total area of uneradicated marihuana
growth in the United States is approximately 18,211 hectares.
It
is worthy of note that many state and city officers throughout the country have
been quick to realize the dangers of the drug and to assist in its suppression.
Numerous police departments have educated their forces to recognize the
plant and have initiated local campaigns to eradicate it from vacant lots and
roadsides in localities where it has been found growing.
Few
of the cases of internal traffic reported under the Marihuana Tax Act are of
sufficient international interest to be set out in detail.
Unlike other drugs, marihuana is not generally handled by organized
distributing syndicates.
While
most of the marihuana in the illicit traffic was supplied from internal growth,
nevertheless there was noted an increase in petty smuggling of marihuana into
the United States by seamen on vessels touching at Central American, South
American and other ports. There was
likewise a steady influx of small quantities of marihuana over the border from
Mexico. Several of the most
important of such cases follow:
On
April 11, 1939, customs officers at New York City, during a routine search of
the steamship Exiria, just arrived in port from Tunis, via Piraeus, Salonika,
Istanbul, Constanta, Gibraltar and Lisbon, found concealed thereon three
packages, containing 911 gm., net, of hashish (cannabis).
This hashish was in the form generally encountered in the Near East,
consisting of reddish colored powder which had been steamed or moistened in
sacks and allowed to dry, forming a hard dry brick-like substance.
Investigation disclosed a wiper on the ship, Nicholas Voupoukos, to be
the owner of the hashish, but this Greek seaman had signed off the ship that
morning. He was finally apprehended
in New York City on April 17, 1939. In
the meantime, an anonymous letter was received by customs officers, stating that
Nicholas Voupoukos had brought some hashish into the United States.
When Voupoukos was questioned on April 17, he admitted having purchased
the hashish at Istanbul from an unnamed Turkish citizen.
When informed concerning the anonymous letter, he stated this must have
been written by Socrates Argyros, a New York resident, from whom he had
previously purchased marihuana cigarettes on several occasions.
This information was given to Now York narcotic agents, who proceeded to
the premises occupied by Argyros and arrested this person.
A search of his residence disclosed the presence of 541 marihuana
cigarettes, weighing approximately 254 gm., net, and 401 gm., net, of bulk
marihuana. The marihuana in this
second seizure consisted of the dried, flowering tops and leaves of the cannabis
plant, in the form most frequently encountered in the United States.
On May 17, 1939, Argyros was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, and
ordered placed on parole for 3 years after serving this sentence.
On June 20, 1939, Nicholas Voupoukos received sentence of 1 year and 1
day.
Customs
officers at Baltimore, Md., on August 20, 1939, purchase through a Puerto Rican
I kg. 899 gm. Of marihuana which
they obtained on the Brazilian steamship Ayuruoca.
On November 20, 1939 Concalo R. Nascimento, the man who delivered the
marihuana, was sentenced to serve 1 year and I day in a Federal penitentiary.
Customs
officers at Baltimore, Md., on July 15, 1939, seized kg. 41 gm., net, of
marihuana which they found concealed on the steamship Pocone, coming from
Santos, Brazil. Ownership of the
marihuana was not ascertained.
On
March 21, 1939, customs officers at Norfolk, Va., when searching the steamship
Black Condor, arrived in port from Philadelphia Chester, Rotterdam, Antwerp, New
York, and Baltimore, found tobacco tin, containing 32 gm., net, of marihuana
concealed in a rope locker. No
arrests were made.
After
the steamship New Brooklyn arrived at Norfolk, Va., on August 14, 1939, from
Freetown, West Africa, there were seized 56.8 gm. of marihuana.
At Brooklyn, N. Y., customs officers had found four packages of
marihuana, weighing 64 gm., net, concealed on the person of John Boe Walley,
negro crew member of the vessel. Walley
stated he had purchased the marihuana in Freetown from an unnamed woman, paying
2 pence for each package. On
September 25, 1939, Walley was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment.
A copy of the report covering this seizure was transmitted to the British
authorities.
With
regard to smuggling of drugs from ports to the south of the United States, the
following cases are cited:
On
August 22 and 23, 1939, customs officers at New York City found 291 gm., net, of
marihuana concealed on the steamship Santa Paula, arrived in port from Curacao,
Netherlands West Indies. A member of
the crew of the ship, Inocencio Rodriguez, was subsequently sentenced to
imprisonment for 1 month in connection with this seizure.
On
September 6, 1939, Customs officers at New York City found 1 ½ marihuana
cigarettes, weighing 0.88 gm., net, in the possession of Pedro Velazquez, member
of the crew of the steamship Santa Rosa. Velazquez
stated he had purchased the cigarettes in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela.
He was not prosecuted.
On
October 3, 1939, customs officers at New York found one package of marihuana,
weighing 2 gm., net, concealed under a coil of rope on the steamship Santa
Paula, arrived in port from Curacao, Netherlands West Indies.
On October 4, they found five glazed paper packages, containing 5 gm.,
net, of prepared opium, and two metal "toys," containing 8 gin., net,
of prepared opium, concealed in spice tins in the main galley of the vessel.
The first cook of the ship, So You, admitted ownership of the opium;
claiming he drank a solution made from the opium; further, that he had purchased
the opium in Curacao, Netherlands West Indies. He
was subsequently released. Ownership
of the marihuana was not established. This
case was called to the attention of the Netherlands authorities.
Customs
officers at New York City on October 11, 1939, arrested Jose Rodriguez, Puerto
Rican fireman on the steamship Santa Elena, coming from La Guayra, Puerto
Cabello, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Colon, and Curagao, when he attempted to bring
ashore 7 marihuana cigarettes. A
search of the vessel resulted in the seizure of 65 additional marihuana
cigarettes. Rodriguez stated he had
purchased 10 marihuana cigarettes in a saloon in Panama.
The
following seizures of marihuana were effected by customs officers at New York
City on the steamship Siboney, coming from Veracruz, via Havana:
January
15, 1939, one package, weighing 30 gm., net; January 16, 1939, two packages,
weighing 1 kg. 501 gm., net; March 20, 1939, one package, weighing 91 gm., net;
April 11, 1939, one package, weighing 373 gm., net; May 23, 24 and June 13,
1939, 10 kg. 595 gm., net, and 0.07 gm., net, of heroin; September 27, 1939, one
bag, weighing 417 gm., net. In
addition, ship's officers of the Siboney found 142 gm., net, of marihuana
concealed on the vessel at sea. Subsequently,
the following sentences were imposed in connection with these seizures:
Ernesto
Taraboche -------- 8 months.
Roberto
GuiUermety ------- Suspended sentence, and probation for 1 year.
Eric
Williams ------------- Suspended sentence, and probation for 1 year.
On
September 20, 1939, customs officers at New York City found concealed on the
person of Eustico Rios, Puerto Rican seaman on the steamship Monterey, coming
from Veracruz, via Havana, one cheese cloth sack holding 255.6 gm., net, of
marihuana. Rios refused to divulge
the source of the marihuana. On
November 13, 1939, Rios was sentenced to serve 1 year and 1 day in prison.
Three
seizures of marihuana were made by customs officers at New York City on the
steamship Mexico, coming from Veracruz, via Havana.
The first seizure, on May 9, 1939, consisted of two packages of
marihuana, weighing 452 gm., net. Ownership
was not established. The second
seizure, on July 11, 1939, was one package of marihuana, weighing 4 gm., net,
with ownership undetermined, while the third seizure was two bags of marihuana,
weighing 1 kg. 327 gm., net, on August 22, 1939, with ownership not ascertained.
A
seizure of 1 kg. 816 gm., net, of marihuana, was made by customs officers at New
York City on April 2, 1939, on the steamship Orizaba, coming from Progreso,
Veracruz, and Havana. Ownership of
the marihuana was not determined.
With
regard to the smuggling of marihuana from Mexico into the United States, the
following seizures are listed:
On
November 9, 1939, customs inspectors at El Paso, Tex., searched the person of R.
A. Redmond, American, when he entered the United States from Ciudad Juarez,
Mexico, seizing several marihuana cigarettes.
Redmond recovered 1 cigarettes and swallowed them, together with the
paper covering. The inspectors
regained one cigarette, but not until they had been attacked by Redmond.
Redmond stated he had been smoking marihuana for approximately 8 months.
The circumstances illustrate the effect that the marihuana had upon him,
as it is reported that he possessed almost superhuman strength, it requiring the
combined efforts of two officers to subdue him.
Redmond is being held for prosecution.
Mexican authorities were informed of this seizure.
On
October 3, 1939, customs patrol officers arrested Juan Guerrero and Alejos
Ramirez in possession of bulk marihuana and marihuana cigarettes, weighing 113
gm., net. They stated that they had
purchased the marihuana from Jesus DeLeon of Eagle Pass, Tex., and they
accompanied the officers to Eagle Pass in order to identify this person.
DeLeon was then arrested and approximately 4 kg. 82 gm. of marihuana were
seized from him. He admitted that
the marihuana had been smuggled from Mexico.
He was subsequently sentenced to 13 months' imprisonment.
Guerrero and Ramirez received sentences of 1 month each.
Customs
patrol inspectors at Nogales, Ariz., on July 15, 1939, apprehended Luciano
Ramirez at a point about one-half mile east of Nogales, as he crossed the border
from Mexico, and seized from him one cloth sack, containing 1 kg. 814 gm., net,
of marihuana, and five spice tins containing 680 gm., net., of prepared opium.
The case against this defendant is still pending.
The
following additional marihuana seizures were effected at points on or near the
Mexican border:
April
8, 1939, Hidalgo, Tex., I kg. 332 gm., net, of marihuana,.
May
12, 1939, El Paso, Tex., 40 gm., not, of marihuana.
July
2, 1939, Mercedes, Tex., 71 gm., net, of marihuana.
August
27, 1939, Pearsall, Tex., 266 gm., net, of marihuana.
September
23, 1939, El Paso, Tex., 12 gm., net, of marihuana.
September
27, 1939, El Paso, Tex., fifty marihuana cigarettes, weighing 52 gm., net.
October
12, 1939) El Paso, Tex., nine marihuana cigarettes, weighing 6 gm., net.
October
29, 1939, Browmville, Tex., nineteen rolls of marihuana, weighing 62 gm., net.
October
30, 1939, El Paso, Tex., one sack of marihuana, weighing 311 gm., net.
November
1, 1939, Brownsville, Tex., ten marihuana cigarettes, weighing 4 gm., net.
November
7, 1939, Harlingen, Tex., fifteen rolls of marihuana, weighing 67 gm., net.
November
22, 1939, Douglas, Ariz., twenty-one marihuana cigarettes, weighing 12 gm., net.
November
23, 1939, Harlingen, Tex., twelve marihuana cigarettes, weighing 9 gm., net.
November
24, 1939, Del Rio, Tex., 22 gm., net, of marihuana.
November
25, 1939, El Paso, Tex., 21 gm., net, of marihuana.
November
28, 1939, Nogales, Ariz., twenty-seven marihuana cigarettes, weighing 26 gm.,
net.
November
28, 1939, Nogales, Ariz., three marihuana cigarettes, weighing 0.97 gm., net,
and 16 gm., net, of bulk marihuana.
December
8, 1939, El Paso, Tex., eight marihuana cigarettes, weighing 0.52 gm., net.
December
10, 1939, Patagonia, Ariz., one marihuana cigarette, weighing 0.19 gm., net.
December
14, 1939, El Paso, Tex., two marihuana cigarettes, weighing 3 gm., net.
December
14, 1939, Mercedes, Tex., eight marihuana cigarettes, weighing 0.52 gm., net.
In
each of the marihuana cases listed above, the defendants admitted that the
marihuana had been obtained in Mexico and smuggled into the United States.
Mexican authorities have been informed of these seizures.
VI.
Other Information.
EDUCATIONAL
WORK
Continued
effort was expended during the year on preventive educational work, particularly
regarding the abuse of marihuana. As
to educational methods of combating the marihuana smoking practice, it is
considered that direct propaganda to youth is undesirable because of the danger
of arousing undue curiosity. It is
desirable, however, for the parent, without over-emphasis, to educate the youth
against the use of marihuana.
Much
assistance has been rendered by various women's organizations, particularly by
the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the General Federation of
Women's Clubs, and the numerous parent-teacher organizations throughout the
country in the widespread dissemination of educational material on illicit use
of narcotic drugs.
There
has been increased demand for speakers and for written information on the
narcotic and marihuana problems, manifesting an active desire on the part of
many worthy civic organizations and citizens to be of assistance.
Numerous
addresses were delivered, on request, by various supervisory officials of the
Bureau to organizations throughout the
country such as the various medical associations, various police schools and
State police training schools, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the
American Legion, various churches, hospital groups, and lodges, Kuwanis, Rotary,
and other clubs, colleges of pharmacy and science, parent-teacher associations,
Peace Officers' Training Schools, Peace Officers Associations, and other
interested groups.
== ==
== (page 65)
IX.
Marihuana (Cannabis sativa L., Indian Hemp).
During
the year 1939 hemp was grown on about 656 hectares in the States of Kentucky and
Wisconsin for seeds and fiber. Of
this approximately 477 hectares were grown in the State of Wisconsin for fiber,
mainly for cordage purposes. The
crop grown in Kentucky was cultivated for both the fiber and seed, approximately
94 hectares being grown for fiber and 85 for seed.
The production of hemp seed amounted to approximately 31,481 kg.
No
one registered during the year to grow the plant for the flowering or fruiting
tops for the production of Cannabis for medicinal purposes.
It is not believed that the plant will be cultivated for this purpose in
view of the tax of $1 an ounce which is imposed under the act on the transfer of
the flowering tops, the whole plants, or any extracts or preparations made
therefrom.
Importations
of hemp seed during 1939 totaled 585,253 kg. 728 gm. as compared to 233,276 kg.
861 gm. during 1938. While the
importations for 1939 exceed those of 1938 they are still far below those made
during 1936 when 28,536,011 kg. 340 gm. of seeds were imported.
The internal-revenue tax of 2 cents per pound, effective August 21, 1936,
on the importation of these seeds remained in effect during 1939.
The importations of hemp seed during the years 1930 to '1939 are shown in
table 10-A in the appendix.
The
system of control of the legitimate manufacture and distribution of Cannabis
products for industrial and medicinal purposes was described in the annual
report for the calendar year 1938. The
number of persons registered in each of the several classes under the Marihuana
Tax Act of 1937 is set out in the appendix, table 11-A
RESEARCH
WORK ON MARIHUANA
(Cannabis
sativa)
Conducted
during 1939 by the Bureau of Narcotics Laboratory
During
the year the activities of the Bureau of Narcotics Laboratory were intensively
directed toward the accumulation of information regarding the chemistry of
Cannabis sativa, and toward coordinating studies which are being carried on in
cooperation with various other experts throughout the country who are engaged in
research work on Cannabis.
It
was found that the complex mixture known as Cannabis resin is capable of being
separated, by molecular distillation, into fractions of varying physical and
chemical properties and physiological potency.
Resins from different sources were found by this means to differ
significantly in composition.
Means
were found for separating the fractions of greatest physiological potency into
further subtractions. The resulting
material, high in biological activity, did not respond to the alkaline Beam
test. It is thus evident that
intensity of response to this test cannot constitute a competent measure of the
potency of Cannabis or its preparations.
In
cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture a program of
research was carried out designed to determine whether the composition Of
Cannabis resin is materially affected by the climate and soil of the locality in
which it grows. To this end four
agronomic varieties were planted at each of four widely separated points
(Virginia, Mississippi, Nebraska, and Wisconsin) and the resin from 960 plants
tested by the Acid and alkaline Beam tests.
Results indicated that the plants develop more of the substance
responsible for the alkaline beam test in dry regions (Nebraska) but that the
effect of climate is relatively small as compared with that of variety.
Hitherto the opinion has generally prevailed that climate was the most
important factor. Although this is
not definitely negated by these experiments, no affirmative indications have so
far been obtained. Past researches
have shown that intensity of response to the test varies widely among different
varieties.
Discovery
of the use for smoking of the fruits (seed) of Cannabis made it advisable to
determine whether they contain any substance having a physiological activity
which would categorize them in this sense with the, leaves and flowering tops of
the plant. To this end a number of
extracts of the crushed fruits were prepared by different processes.
It developed that in extracts prepared by usual means the physiological
potency was completely obscured presumably by the oil found abundantly in the
fruits. Removal of the oil by
conversion to soap permitted the extraction of a small amount (ca. 0.7 percent)
of a mixture of substances having an effect qualitatively and quantitatively
comparable to that of the resin prepared from the leaves and flowering tops.
It is not yet known whether the active substance is chemically identical
with that found elsewhere in the plant. The
material does not respond to the Beam test.
[6]
For information regarding legitimate cultivation see IX, Marihuana (Hemp).
[7]
Copies of detailed report on this work have been furnished to the League of
Nations for distribution to the members of the Opium Advisory Committee.
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1941 (page 19)
ILLICIT
TRAFIFIC IN MARIJIUANA [5] (Cannabis Sativa L.)
The
abuse of marihuana in the United States consists principally in the smoking, for
the narcotic effect, of the resinous flowering tops and crushed portions of the
plant, rolled into cigarettes. The
price of the cigarettes ranged from 10 to 50 cents each, the usual price being
from 15 to 25 cents per cigarette.
During
the year Federal officers. reported 1,198 violations of the Federal marihuana
law (see table I-B), involving 2,200 seizures of marihuana in various forms (see
table 3-C), and 1,094 arrests. The
arrests and seizures of marihuana by State officers, acting independently of
Federal officers. are set out in table 4. There
were seized in the illicit traffic 21 7 462 ounces (608 kilograms, 434 grams) of
bulk marihuana and 27,863 marihuana cigarettes.
Of this, 7,482 ounces (212 kilograms, 111 grams) of bulk marihuana, and
1,599 cigarettes were seized at ports and borders.
In
addition the Federal Government, in cooperation with State and municipal
enforcement agencies throughout the country, conducted a program of eradicating
marihuana found growing on 23,301 acres (9,430 hectares) of land. (See table
3-D.)
Few
of the cases of internal traffic reported under the Federal marihuana law are of
sufficient international interest to be set out in detail.
There
was a considerable increase in the smuggling of marihuana on vessels coming from
Mexican, Central and South American, African, and British Indian ports.
Customs seizures in the Southwest indicated that there was a continued
trickle of marihuana into the United States from Mexico, but with few exceptions
these seizures, individually, were of no great significance.
One case of importance involved seizures, at Cotulla and Laredo, Tex.,
and consisted of over 236 pounds (107 kilograms, 48 grams) of bulk marihuana of
Mexican origin. Other seizures of
marihuana at points on or near the Mexican border were as follows:
El
Paso, Tex., March 23, 1941, 10 pounds (4 kilograms, 536 grams) of bulk marihuana
of Mexican origin.
Laredo,
Tex., August 6, 1941, 8.89 pounds (4 kilograms, 32 grams) of bulk marihuana of
Mexican origin.
Laredo,
Tex., November 13, 1941, 10 pounds (4 kilograms, 536 grams) of bulk marihuana of
Mexican origin.
In
a series of seizures, involving the smuggling of marihuana into the port of New
York City from Mexico on the steamship Agwistar, narcotic and customs officers
on March .21, July 7, 21, 26, and 29, August 3, September 18, December 10, and
28, 1941, made seizures of marihuana totaling 18 pounds, 4 ounces, 125 grains (8
kilograms, 286 grams). A number of
persons were arrested.
Ten
pounds (4 kilograms, 536 grams) of bulk marihuana were seized at Brooklyn, N.
Y., on March 17,18, and 19, 1941, on the steamship Oneida.
The marihuana was smuggled from Tampico.
At
Los Angeles, Calif., on September 8, 1941, narcotic agents seized 12 pounds, 4
ounces (5 kilograms, 556 grams) of bulk marihuana which had been shipped from El
Paso, Tex., and originally had come from Mexico.
CRIMES
ASSOCIATED WITH MARIHUANA
The
following incidents are cited as an illustration of the unexpected action that
an individual under the influence of marihuana may take:
On
July 13, 1941, one Apodaca, allegedly under the influence of marihuana and while
drinking at the bar of a cafe in El Paso, Tex., suddenly went berserk, took a
knife from his pocket and started cutting the man standing next to him.
This man seized the knife while his assailant attempted to cut two other
persons. Apodaca was in possession
of two marihuana cigarettes at the time he committed these crimes.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on October 24, 1941, to serve 4
months in a correctional institution, and sentence was suspended for 1 year.
CRIMINAL
RECORDS OF MARIHUANA LAW VIOLATORS
An
analysis made during the year of the criminal history of 1,000 Marihuana law
violators showed an average of 5 arrests per person.
A substantial number of the first Arrests of these violators were for
felonies.
VEHICLES
SEZED IN CONNECTION WITH VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL NARCOTIC DRUG LAWS
On
January 1, 1941, there were pending cases against 33 automobiles valued at
$17,708. During the calendar year
1941. 72 cars valued at $38,289; 1 truck valued at $250; and 1 airplane valued
at $1,150 were seized in connection with violations of the Federal narcotic drug
laws.
The
following table shows the disposition of the 107 vehicles valued at $57,397:
Value
Forfeited
summarily
57 cars ----------------- $25,676
1
truck
250
Forfeited
judicially
10
cars
7, 695
Compromised
I
car
800
Returned
18 cars
9,455
Pending,
Dec. 31, 1941
19 cars
12,371
1 airplane
1,150
---------
----------
107
57,397
Of
the 68 vehicles forfeited 3 had been released on bond and the bonds were
forfeited to the Government, 42 were delivered under statutory authority to
field narcotic law enforcement officers for use pursuant to the performance of
their official duties, 6 were delivered to other Federal agencies for official
use, 16 were ordered to be sold at public auction, and 1 is pending disposition
by Procurement Division.
VEHICLES
SEIZED IN CONNECTION WITH VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL MARIHUANA LAWS
On
January 1, 1941, there were pending cases against 17 automobiles valued at
$10,031 and 2 trucks valued at $510. During
the calendar year 1941, 98 automobiles valued at $36,537 and 4 trucks valued at
$1,075 were seized in connection with violations of the Federal marihuana laws.
The
following table shows the disposition of the 121 vehicles valued at $48,153:
Value
Forfeited
summarily
58 cars
$14,716
4 trucks
735
Forfeited
judicially
13 cars
6,846
Seizure
adopted by Secret Service
I car
300
Returned
21 cars
11,526
1truck
550
Pending,
Dec. 31, 1941
22 cars
13,180
1 truck
300
-------
-----
121
48,153
Of
the 75 vehicles forfeited, 24 were delivered under statutory authority to field
narcotic law enforcement officers for use pursuant to the performance of their
official duties, 10 were delivered to other Federal agencies for official use,
38 were ordered to be sold at public auction, and 3 are pending disposition by
Procurement Division.
== ==
== (page 24)
IX.
Marihuana (Cannabis sativa L, Indian Hemp).
During
the year 1941 hemp was grown on about 9,144 acres (3,700 hectares) in the States
of Kentucky and Wisconsin for seeds and fiber.
Of this approximately 4,898 acres (1,982 hectares) were grown in the
State of Wisconsin for fiber, mainly for cordage purposes.
The crop grown in Kentucky was cultivated for both the fiber and seed,
approximately 2,040 acres (825 hectares) being grown for fiber and 2,206 acres
(893 hectares) for seed. The
production of hemp seed amounted to approximately 668,189 pounds (303,089
kilograms).
No
one registered during the year to grow the plant for the flowering or fruiting
tops for the production of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
It is not believed that the plant will be cultivated for this purpose in
view of the tax of $1 an ounce which is imposed under the act on the transfer of
the flowering tops, the whole plants, or any extracts or preparations made
therefrom.
The
system of control of the legitimate manufacture and distribution of cannabis
products for industrial and medicinal purposes was described in the annual
report for the calendar year 1938. The
number of persons registered in each of the several classes under the Federal
marihuana law is set out in the appendix table 10-A.
RESEARCH
WORK ON MARIHUANA (Cannabis saliva L.) CONDUCTED DURING 1941 BY THE BUREAU OF
NARCOTICS LABORATORY
The
Bureau's technical staff reports a satisfactory advance during the year in the
knowledge of the chemistry of the marihuana drums.
Resulting partly from the coordinated investigations by Drs. Roger Adams,
W. S. Loewe, and others, and partly by the independent activities of the
Bureau's laboratory, tetrahydrocannabinols were found to be characteristically
active. Starting with an inactive
constituent of a marihuana extract Dr. Adams produced, by chemical modification,
two highly active tetrahydrocannabinols. He
also completely synthesized a tetrahydrocannabinol and employed for this purpose
chemicals not derived from the marihuana plant, viz, puleoone (which is a
terpene), olivetol (which is .t, n-amyl resorcinol), and methyl iodide.
The
Bureau's laboratory isolated a tetrahydrocannabinol from charas resin itself,
and this product proved to be the most active .material hitherto encountered.
This is the first time that a pure highly active chemical of known
structure has been isolated from the marihuana plant or its products.
From
the above it would appear that 4 years of intensive research have resolved many
of the basic questions concerning the chemical structure of the marihuana drugs.
Further research on these drugs will henceforth continue to yield
precedence to problems of more immediate urgency occasioned by war activities.
[5]
For information regarding legitimate cultivation see IX, Marihuana (Hemp).
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1942 (page 19)
ILLICIT
TRAFIFIC IN MARIJIUANA [8] (Cannabis Sativa L.)
The
abusive use of marihuana in the United States consists principally in the
smoking, for the narcotic effect, of the resinous flowering tops and crushed
portions of the plant, rolled into cigarettes.
The price of the cigarettes ranged from 10 cents to $1 each, the usual
price being from 10 to 35 cents per cigarette, while the price of bulk marihuana
averaged from $50 to $85 per pound.
During
1942 the number of violations of the Federal marihuana law reported by narcotic
officers decreased slightly, 876 persons being arrested as compared with 1,094
in 1941. There were seized in the
illicit traffic 11,830 ounces (334 kilograms, 98 grams) of bulk marihuana, and
32,817 marihuana cigarettes. Of
this, 1,569 ounces (44 kilograms, 491 grams) of bulk marihuana, and 2,505
marihuana cigarettes were seized at ports and borders.
In
carrying on a program of marihuana eradication throughout the ,country, in
cooperation with State, municipal, and other enforcement agencies of the Federal
Government, volunteer marihuana was eradicated from approximately 6,635 , acres
(2,684 hectares) of dense growth. (See table 3-D in the appendix.)
The
petty smuggling of marihuana on-vessels coming from Mexican, Central and South
American, African, and British Indian ports continued, but on a diminished
scale. Customs seizures in the
Southwest indicated that there was the usual trickle of marihuana into the
United States from Mexico, but with few exceptions these seizures, individually,
were not significant
Narcotic
agents at San Francisco, Calif., on March 31, 1942, arrested Fred D. SHIRAR,
after purchasing from him a bar of HASHISH weighing 18 ounces, 83 1/2grains (515
grams). Investigating officers
stated that this was the first HASHISH case made on the Pacific coast of the
United States. SHIRAR claimed he had
difficulty in disposing of the HASHISH, since no one in San Francisco was
familiar with its use. SHIRAR stated
that he purchased it in Bombay for $60 United States currency, so no doubt it
was what is known in India as CHARAS. The
HASHISH, or CHARAS, was brown in color and had the consistency of putty.
It was wrapped in cheese cloth.
Another
HASHISH, or CHARAS, seizure was made at New York N. Y., on July 29, 1942, when
narcotic officers arrested Gideon HENAULT and confiscated 1 1/4ounces (35 grams)
of this drug and two water pipes used for smoking HASHISH.
HENAULT stated that he purchased the HASHISH (CHARAS) in Bombay for $75
United States currency, and smuggled it into New York on July 2, 1942.
For smoking purposes, the HASHISH was mixed with tobacco and placed in a
water pipe, being ignited with glowing charcoal.
The water pipes were of the typical near eastern type, called narghiles.
The
following are excerpts of article and editorial on marihuana recently contained
in "Down Beat," trade paper for musicians
TEA SCANDAL STIRS MUSICDOM
TWO MUSICIAN SOLDIERS CAUGHT IN FEDERAL TRAP
Ex-Guitar
Player's Florida Interlude Exposes Nasty Mess
(The
editors of Down Beat don't like to print this story.
We've killed several like it in previous months, believing that they
could cause only harm and aid no one. Parts
of this story, which we previously suppressed, we were not only given permission
to use by the Army, but unofficially requested to do so.
The facts, obtained from unimpeachable sources, are given below for
reasons you will find on our editorial page.)
By MIKE LEVIN
NEW
YORK.-Two weeks ago, the country's newspapers broke one of the nastiest scandals
that has involved musicdom in some time. Press
associations all over the country carried a story that said in part:
"A
'reefer parlor' in a New York entertainer's midtown hotel room, where soldiers
from nearby camps have been smoking marijuana cigarettes, was exposed yesterday
by U. S. Attorney Hollinger.
"This
came as a sequel to the recent escapade of author Ursula Parrott, charged with
spiriting a soldier from a Miami guardhouse to be her companion for an evening.
Hollinger intimated that before the investigation is finished, it may
involve dozens of well-known entertainers and musicians.
"Miss
Parrott's friend, Pvt. Michael
Bryan, formerly guitarist in Benny Goodman's orchestra; Pvt.
John Altwerger, bandsman at Camp Kilmer (N. J.); Theodore Reig, alias
Teddy Reede, a nightclub master of ceremonies; Thomas Allison, an entertainer,
and Rose Reynolds, another entertainer whose hotel room allegedly was the
'reefer parlor,' were charged with conspiring to violate the 1937 marijuana tax
law. All except Altwerger also were
charged with illegal sale or possession of marijuana.
Miss Parrott was not named a defendant, though Hollinger said she will be
an important witness."
This
is part of the story that caused near panic in some music circles in NYC.
The
article then describes the circumstances surrounding several trips which Pvt.
Bryan made to New York, and his purchase there at one time of one-half
pound of marihuana, and a full pound ($100 worth) on another occasion.
"What
broke the case to the newspapers generally were the incidents that followed.
Confined to the stockade for 20 days for being AWOL, Bryan was visited by
Miss Parrott, who had flown down in the meantime.
For some unknown reason, she concealed Bryan in the back of her car,
drove him to her 88th St. Miami home, where she gave him civilian clothes, and
then took him to a hotel, only to turn him over to the authorities 24 hours
later."
TEA
AND TRUMPETS ARE BAD MIXTURE!
This
is one of the sorriest messes that we've seen.
Immediately after the story broke originally, the BEAT'S N. Y. office was
deluged with requests for information, both from press sources and from
Individuals. At first our attitude
was "we don't know a thing"; but when the big news weeklies began
checking, with intentions of running a story that would be injurious to the
whole business, we started thinking. And
when one of the leaders concerned called up in a panic lest his band be ruined
by adverse publicity as being a bunch of "tea-hounds", we knew some
action was in order. * * *
We
know that there are musicians who smoke tea. We
also know that there is only an extremely minute number who do it.
We know that there is a select click that has been working in the top
bands for years who do it, and we know that they are going to get it in the neck
if they aren't careful. And if the
business as a whole isn't careful, it is going to take a bad rap along with
them.
Once
more the old bogies are going to be floating around.
"Musician" is going to be synonymous with "weed
hound." The business neither deserve nor can stand a national campaign of
this sort. * * *
We
also point out the completely amazing disregard much of the business has grown
to have for laws of this sort. Auld,
Reig, and Miss Reynolds couldn't see anything wrong as long as they didn't
actually use the drug themselves---they have since learned differently.
How
about the young musicians too, who copy a Mike Bryan in all he does, even to
smoking tea because they think it will make them better guitarists?
Amazing as it may sound, there are musicians who will start using tea for
lick better reason than this.
The
whole situation is an ugly one, but it must be faced now and wiped out now, lest
worse consequences set in.
The
narcotic bureau has the names and facts concerning many of the musicians who use
tea. They aren’t as interested in
jailing these men as they are in finding out the sources of supply and the
selling agents. We can only suggest
to anyone who uses the stuff: STOP IT NOW, BEFORE YUOU GET YOURSELF AND YOUR
FRIENDS IN A POTFULL OF TROUGHE! We
can only suggest to the AFM that it pass a ruling calling for instant expulsion
of anyone caught using tea. This is
drastic, but drastic steps must be taken within the business if it doesn't wish
to have them taken in much stiffer form by someone else.
*
* * Above ill, it is up to you to see that a story like this doesn't break
again, and that "teeing-up", done by no matter bow few band buffs, is
willed out once and for all!
== ==
== (page 32)
MARIHUANA
RESEARFCH REGARDING CRIMES ASSOCIATED WITH MARIHUANA
Some
premature and possibly unwarranted publicity has been given to conclusions drawn
from certain experiments which have been conducted in the United States with
regard to marihuana intoxication. The
following reply of the Commissioner of Narcotics to an inquiry concerning these
experiments contains his comments on the subject::
Mrs.
IDA B. WISE SMITH,
- July 21, 1942.
National
President, Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
DEAR
Mrs. SMITH:
Referring
to your letter of May 28, 1942, asking for comment on statements made by a
physician before the American Psychiatrist Association at its annual meeting in
Boston, as reported in the press, I hesitated to make any comment until his
paper was received.
I
have finally obtained a copy of the paper, which is attached.
This shows evidence of painstaking work and there can be no dispute as to
his description of the immediate physical manifestations following the use of
marihuana. However, the statement
that marihuana does not give rise to antisocial behavior is contrary to the
findings of scientists and police in every part of the world where marihuana is
used.
The
report that long use of the drug does not lead to physical, mental, or moral
degeneration is surprising, but the fact that only 77 subjects were examined who
were under police restraint may account for this observation.
It should not be used is a criterion, in view of the findings of many
League of Nations experts and in the light of scientific literature and police
reports throughout the world. With
respect to this statement, one merely needs to examine the voluntary statements
of 2,000 users of marihuana in various sections of the country who confirm moral
let-down and Rental instability.
This
paper is different from others because I believe it is based on incomplete
facts. It should be remembered that
this man dealt only with a small group of users who were confined to a New York
City prison. While the study was
concerned with interesting phases of the problem, there apparently was no
opportunity to develop the whole picture.
You
are at liberty to publish this letter in your Union Signal.
Sincerely
yours,
H.
J. ANSLINGER,
Commissioner
of Narcotics.
In
the experimentation which has been conducted with marihuana in the United States
no results have been obtained which authorize anyone to consider the herb
harmless. Along those lines the
Bureau recommends as of interest the exhaustive research which has been
conducted on the present position of hemp-drug addiction in India, report of
which was published by Bevt.-Col. R. N. Chopra, M. B., B. S., A. I. R. O., and
Capt. Gurbakhsh Singh Chopra, M. B., B. S., A. I. R. O., in July 1939 in the
Indian Medical Research Memoirs, and in which it was concluded that the smoking
of hemp drugs brings about a state of intense intoxication as the result of
action on the higher centers in the brain and, if the abuse is continued for a
considerable time, it may lead to mental derangement, behaviour problems, crime
and insanity. Because of much
criticism that the Government of India had been selling hemp to its population,
the research experts naturally tried to justify that Government’s position but
nevertheless they, as conscientious Scientists, were forced to the
aforementioned position. Their
investigation covered a long period, and the findings were representative as
covering the entire population. Some
other distinguished psychiatrists and scientists who agree on the dangers of the
abusive use of marihuana are Watt, professor of pharmacology, University of the
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg; Dhunjiboy, Medical superintendent, Indian Mental
Hospital; Dr. Henri Bouquet, author of "The Insane of Tuiiis"; Dr. J.
Bouquet, Tunisian scientist and League of Nations expert; Church and Peterson;
Yawger, consulting psychiatrist, Pennsylvania Eastern State Penitentiary; Lewin;
Gueche, French psychiatrist; Brotteaux, French scientist; Richet, French; Doria,
president of the Society of Legal Medicine and Criminology, Bahia; Dr. Irving S.
Cutter, United States.
In
the administration of the Federal marihuana law, narcotic officers have met with
many unusual circumstances---the case histories of marihuana law violators, and
particularly those in the western and southwestern sections of the country, show
numerous acts of violence and brutality committed by users when arrested under
the effects of marihuana. The
records also show many occurrences on board ships of brutal assaults, stabbings,
and gun-play, .attributed directly to the use of marihuana.
Those who smoke it excessively are often quarrelsome and insensible to
the consequences of their deeds. Apparently,
the abuse of marihuana is frequently paralleled with abnormal behaviour; every
association that is made with it in criminology indicates that it has a negative
tendency from a social point of view.
[8]
For information regarding legitimate cultivation see IX, Marihuana (Hemp).
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1943 (page 7)
MARIEHUANA
IS A DANGEROUS DRUG
The
following are timely excerpts of a commentary by Dr. Jules Bouquet, of the
Hospital Sadiki, Tunis, Tunisia, Africa, Expert on the League of Nations
Sub-Committee on Cannabis and an outstanding world authority on cannabis
(marihuana), regarding an article published in the United States entitled
"The Psychiatric Aspects of Marihuana Intoxication" by Drs. S.
Allentuck and K. M. Bowman.[4]
I
take the liberty of bringing to your attention the observations suggested to me
by this communication.
Drs.
A. and B. declare that their clinical and laboratory studies, made on subjects
accustomed and unaccustomed to marihuana, reveal no significant somatic or
mental change. It is regrettable
that it was not possible for the authors to examine a few of those inveterate
hemp smokers that one meets in India, the Near East and North Africa, cachectic,
stupefied, besotted, incapable of any sustained work: their opinion would
certainly not be the one which they maintain.
The
symptoms which Drs. A. and B. describe correspond very exactly to what one might
call acute temporary intoxication by cannabis and not to chronic intoxication.
The
77 subjects who underwent the experiments of Drs. A. and B. (and this takes away
a great deal of their value from the conclusions of these authors) were hospital
patients, even, it appears, prisoners.
They
were therefore obliged to be content with the quantities of drug administered to
them. At liberty, some of them would
have given free rein to their inclination and would not have stopped at the weak
dose producing "the pleasure principle."
It is because they can procure the drug at will, because they can consume
as much of it as they wish, and as often as they desire it, in the Oriental
countries (where traffic in the drug is not prohibited or regulated), that there
is such a large number of serious chronic cases of intoxication, incapable of
working, wretched ragamuffins who are a danger and a burden to society.
These consequences alone would justify the prohibition of and a
declaration of war on marihuana.
It
is incontestable that it establishes in them (Orientals) I characteristic
psychosis, which never escapes the doctor accustomed to seeing this sort of
patients.
Drs.
A. and B. say that cannabic intoxication is extremely variable in its
manifestations. It is just there
that one of its greatest dangers exists, for one does not know, and cannot
foresee, how it will show itself. Certain
addicts are driven, under the influence of hemp, to irresistible and dangerous
impulses; whereas, in others, one finds only mental instability and reactions
without danger for others. The
attack varies, in short, with the culture, the sensitiveness and the
intelligence of the subject: an apathetic person will have a calm and mild
delirium; an imaginative one will have brilliant and varied hallucinations; a
brute will have savage reactions, excesses of mad rage: Dr. Blondel once wrote:
"Every hashish addict has the dream which he deserves."
That
is, moreover, why psychoanalysts have proposed the use of cannabis to reveal the
subconscious. This is quite all
right when it is a question of supervised clinical experiments; but, in everyday
life, is it not to be feared that in many cases tendencies and propensities will
emerge from the subconscious of a goodly number of individuals, which it would
have been much better to leave buried forever
Drs.
A. and B. maintain that the relations between marihuana and crime are unfounded.
This opinion, based on 77 tests applied to persons not living at liberty,
appears bold.
Now,
the statistics of the Narcotics Bureau in Washington are already eloquent on
this subject; the annual reports of the Egyptian Government to the League of
Nations are no less so, as well as the various documents published in the course
of the inquiries of the League of Nations.
All
"hachichins" (hashish addicts) do not become assassins[5] but their
laziness, their amorality, indubitably lead them to commit criminal acts, if
only in order to procure the money necessary for the regular purchase of the
drug. This road leads far and
sometimes ends in crimes.
It
is correct---and well known---that accidents from privation have not, with
cannabis, the seriousness which they attain for users of manufactured drugs,
even opium. Nevertheless, quite
serious disorders are observed in those addicted to the drug over a long period,
when their poison is removed. Attacks
of physical prostration and intellectual apathy, especially, are noted: the
patient remains in a corner, prostrated, refusing to move, neglecting to eat.
In
conclusion, however interesting may be, from certain points of view, the results
of the researches of Drs. A. and B., it is my opinion that they have been made
known to the public prematurely. In
exclusively medical circles, such communications present no danger; on the
contrary, they provoke discussions and new investigations which may throw light
on the disputed points. But it is to
be feared that the general public will retain especially what is not irrefutably
proved by the work of Drs. A. and B.; to wit, that marihuana is not as dangerous
as it is said to be, that it induces pleasant sensations without the risk of
baleful consequences and that it may constitute a valuable method of treatment
in certain afflictions.
The
use of marihuana must be prohibited on the same grounds as that of opium and the
manufactured narcotics, and the social interest of the civilized countries
demands that the strictest prohibition measures be taken and enforced
==
== ==
(page 27)
ILLICIT
TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA [14] (Cannabis Sativa L.)
Arrests
for violations of the Federal marihuana law showed little change from 1942. (See
table 1-B in the appendix.)
The
total quantity seized in the illicit traffic was 11,256 ounces (319 kilograms,
97 grams) of bulk marihuana, and 23,406 marihuana cigarettes.
Of this 5,938 ounces (168 kilograms, 328 grams) of bulk marihuana, and
2,543 marihuana cigarettes, were seized at ports and borders. (See table 3-C in
the appendix.) The amount of
marihuana seized at borders showed a substantial increase over 1942.
It was of Mexican origin.
The
price of marihuana cigarettes ranged from 25 cents to $1 each, while the price
of bulk marihuana averaged from $50 to $175 pr pound.
Volunteer
marihuana was eradicated by several States from approximately 154 acres (62.4
hectares). (See table 4 in the appendix.)
CRIMES
ASSOCIATED WITH MARIHUANA
While
allegedly under the influence of marihuana, 27-year-old Carl J. Murphy, hotel
bellboy, on September 30, 1943, shot and killed J. Stayton Smith, guard in the
Federal Building at Oklahoma City, Okla. He
was convicted for the crime and sentenced to serve 10 years.
Another
bellboy who was arrested in the case confessed that he and Murphy had smoked
marihuana in a hotel room before the crime was committed.
Murphy then left the hotel and walked to the Federal Building.
On the street he met three sailors, one of whom he bit on the neck.
He struck a small boy whom he met on the sidewalk.
Murphy then went to the Federal Building and took charge of an Army
Recruiting Office. When Mr. Smith,
the building guard, was called to remove Murphy, a fight ensued.
Murphy seized a gun from the guard and shot and killed him instantly.
Murphy then placed the gun on a chair and walked down the hall singing.
He engaged in another fight but was finally subdued and placed in the
city jail. Two days later Murphy was
still unable to think or talk coherently. He
talked about trying to get on the top of an automobile where he could reach a
telephone wire and swing himself to the top of the hotel and from there he could
get to heaven. Later, at a hearing,
Murphy stated that he had smoked marihuana several times; that he did not
remember leaving the hotel, nor the fights nor the shooting of Mr. Smith; he did
not remember his arraignment and stated the first he knew about the matter was
after he came out of the stupor when someone told him he had shot and killed a
guard at the Federal Building.
Murphy's
employers stated he had always been quiet and sober, and had never caused
trouble of any kind.
The
effects he experienced are characteristic, particularly with regard to the
distortion of space and lack of restraint or memory by individuals of their own
actions while under the influence of marihuana.
On
December 8, 1943 life imprisonment was decreed for Pablo Rodriguez of Laredo,
Tex., when he was convicted of whipping to death his 10-year-old niece,
Guadalupe Flores. She and another
niece had been kept in the back yard of the Rodriguez residence in a
doghouse-like shack where they were sometimes chained.
When
Rodriguez was arrested, marihuana cigarettes were found on his person.
It was the opinion of officials that lie had been a marihuana smoker.
Prison sentence given for claiming use of marihuana to evade military
service
In
October 1943 in Detroit, Mich., Gad Sam Holland was sentenced in Federal Court
to 5 years' imprisonment on a charge of attempting to evade induction into the
Armed Services by smoking marihuana cigarettes to make him physically unfit
before appearing for his examination, and by giving false statements that he was
addicted to the use of marihuana.
After
Holland was rejected by his Selective Service Board because he informed them of
his use of marihuana, narcotic agents investigated his case which resulted in
the conviction.
VI.
Other Information.
EDUCATIONAL
WORK
The
National Woman's Christian Temperance Union continued to do outstanding narcotic
educational work during the year.
The
Special Narcotics Educational Issue of the Union Signal which is printed in
January of each year by the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union at 1730
Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Ill., contains interesting and reliable information on
all current pleases of narcotic drug control work.
RESEARCH
WORK CONDUCTED DUIUNG THE YEAR BY THE BUREAU OF NARCOTICS LABORATORY
During
1943 the Bureau of Narcotics laboratory continued its research on marihuana.
A supplementary step to the Duquenois chemical test for marihuana was
developed which provides a, more useful and accurate means of identification.
== ==
== (Page 30)
B.
RAW MATERIALS
IX.
Marihuana (Cannabis sativa L., Indian Hemp).
During
the year 1943 hemp was grown on about 204,124 acres (82,608 hectares) in the
States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin
for seeds and fibre. Of this,
approximately 144,524 acres (58,488 hectares) were grown for fibre, 36,786 acres
(14,886 hectares) being grown in Illinois; 5,668 acres (2,294 hectares) in
Indiana; 39,507 acres (15,989 hectares) in Iowa; 4,200 acres (1,700 hectares) in
Kentucky; 29,119 acres (11,784 hectares) in Minnesota; and 29,244 acres (11,835
hectares) in Wisconsin.
Approximately
59,600 acres (24,120 hectares) were grown for seed, 59,000 acres (23,877
hectares) being in Kentucky and 600 acres (243 hectares) in Tennessee.
No
one registered during the year to grow the plant for the flowering or fruiting
tops for the production of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
No cultivation of the plant for this purpose is expected.
The
number of persons registered in each of the several classes under the Federal
marihuana law is set out in the appendix table 10.
[4]The
latter paper included the statements that marihuana does not give rise to
antisocial behavior and that long use of the drug does not lead to physical,
mental, or moral degeneration. Such
statements should not be used as a criterion, however, because they were based
on examination of only 77 controlled subjects who were given certain amounts of
marihuana while under police restraint.
[5]
A reference to the medieval legend of the Old Man of the Mountain and his band
of Assassins. The word
"assassin" is derived from "hashish."
[14]
For information regarding legitimate cultivation see IX, marihuana (Hemp)
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1944 (page 12)
PUBLICATIONS
Attention
is called to an enlightening study on THE MARIHUANA ADDICT IN THE ARMY by Capt.
Eli Marcovitz and Capt. Henry
J. Myers, Medical Corps, Army of the United States, reported in War Medicine,
December 1944, vol. 6, pp. 382-394, and published by the American Medical
Association. The following are
excerpts of the study:
THE
MARIHUANA ADDICT IN THE ARMY
At
the Army Air Forces Regional Station Hospital at March Field, Calif., we have
had the opportunity to observe 35 marihuana addicts in a period of about 7
months.
Marihuana
addicts show most clearly the mutual relationship between hostile and
destructive tendencies directed externally and the same tendencies directed
against the self. This is expressed
in a number of ways. They repeatedly
get themselves into trouble, with consequences of deprivation and hardships,
such as restriction of passes, failure to make ratings, a loss of rating if they
have any, imprisonment and solitary confinement.
By their overtly hostile, provocative, and intransigent attitude toward
authority they constantly invite punishment.
The addicts frequently said, "I don't care what anybody does to me.
I don't care what happens to me." This even went to such lengths as
threatening to run away from guards so that they would be shot.
Self
mutilation was not uncommon among them, usually slashing of the wrists.
Frequently this self injury was resorted to when they were not allowed to
have marihuana or some other sedative drugs or when they were subjected to
discipline and hardship in the guard house.
One
of them after being informed that he was to be returned to duty, strung himself
up by a sheet that night and almost succeeded in committing suicide.
Another held a razor blade to his wrist and threatened to slash himself
unless he were given some barbiturate capsules.
In all such reactions not only did there seem to be the inability to
endure pain, discomfort, or rejection but there was repeated the pattern of the
creation of a situation in which they reacted to a cruel, denying parent figure
by injuring themselves.
In
their actual situations one finds marihuana addicts unable to endure
frustration, deprivation, or discipline from any authority.
Felix has observed this among morphine addicts. . The response of
marihuana addicts to such situations is one of explosive aggression.
They are unable to control their behavior in a socially acceptable manner
or to direct their energies toward a goal which would provide ordinary
"normal" satisfactions. Their
whole life history has been one of repeated frustration of any attempt to come
to terms with their milieu in any way of mutual satisfaction.
Marihuana
addicts show the usual behavior of the outlaw who rejects and rebels against the
authority from which he really wants love and of which he wants to be a part.
Previous
studies have insisted that marihuana addicts show no physiologic withdrawal
symptoms such as characterize morphine addicts.
However, in our cases the psychologic aspect of the withdrawal seems of
extreme importance. When marihuana
addicts are separated from their source of supply, they manifest anxiety,
restlessness, irritability, or even a state of depression with suicidal
phantasies, sometimes self-mutilating actions or actual suicidal attempts.
We cannot corroborate Bromberg's findings that suicidal attempts follow
the use of the drug. In our
experience they are much more likely to follow withdrawal of the drug.
In addition almost every one of our patients complained of severe
headaches, with repeated demands for acetylsalicylic acid or barbiturates to
relieve their very obvious distress. Frequently
they say that they take marihuana because it relieves their headache and their
state of physical and mental depression.
It
is not unusual when patients had been in the hospital previously and returned to
duty for them to return in a state of increased anxiety due to marihuana or,
more frequently, to lack of it, requesting admission to the hospital.
They wanted admission to the ward as if it
were a place of refuge against this unbearable state which might lead
them to violent aggression or suicide. One
of them returned in such a state demanding readmission, saying that lie was
feeling so bad that he could not be responsible for what he might do; if any one
"messed with" him he might kill him.
SUMMARY
AND CONCLUSIONS
Thirty-five
confirmed marihuana addicts came under observation during a period of 7 months
at an Army Air Forces regional station hospital.
They present a serious problem in their failure to perform any useful
duties, in breaches of discipline, in constant need for medical attention, in
consistent failure to respond favorably to disciplinary measures or attempts at
rehabilitation, and in their disruptive effect on the morale of their
organization.
As
a group, their backgrounds were heavily loaded with adverse familial, social,
and economic factors. Their
histories were characterized by delinquent and criminal behavior and failure to
develop any consistent patterns of productive work.
In effect, they felt and acted like enemy aliens toward society.
==
== ==
== (page 34)
ILLICIT
TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA (Cannabis Sativa L.)
Traffic
in marihuana became an increasingly serious problem during 1944, with seizures
larger than in 1943, and the illicit traffic in several instances reaching the
proportions of well-financed conspiracies.
Four
major gangs supplying New York City, which was the focal point of this traffic,
were broken up. A large portion of
the marihuana seized was of Mexican origin.
Numerous arrests were made in other population centers, some seizures
being measured in terms of many pounds, rather than in ounces, as is ordinarily
the case
There
were seized by the Bureau of Narcotics in the internal traffic 8,735 ounces (247
kilograms, 639 grams) of bulk marihuana; 199 ounces (5 kilograms, 645 grams) of
marihuana seed; and 13,394 marihuana cigarettes; in comparison with 5,318 ounces
(150 kilograms, 769 grams) of bulk marihuana; 91 ounces (2 kilograms, 573 grams)
of marihuana seed; and 20,863 marihuana cigarettes seized in 1943.
At
ports and borders, seizures by customs officers were 2,812 ounces (78 kilograms,
813 grams) of bulk marihuana; and 3,095 marihuana cigarettes
The
price of marihuana cigarettes ranged from 50 cents to $1.50 each, while the
price of bulk marihuana averaged from $75 to $150 per pound.
Volunteer
marihuana was eradicated by the States of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Illinois,
from approximately 1121/2 acres (45.5 hectares).
Regarding
the use of marihuana in New York City, Dr. Peter F. Amoroso, City Commissioner
of Correction, New York, stated in the press, in part, as follows:
Before
the flow of drugs was cut from the Far East, the most popular narcotic in New
York was heroin because it was cheap to buy and easy to use.
Today, however, detectives on the Police Department Narcotic Squad
declare that marihuana is the chief drug used because it can be grown almost
anywhere in the city.
In
one of the major cases at New York, N. Y., Manuel ARANDA, Jose Garza MARTINEZ,
and Rafael Murairi TREVINO were arrested on December 18, 1944, for the sale of
45 1/2 pounds (20 kilograms, 650 grams) of marihuana which were seized by
narcotic agents when the defendants attempted to deliver it to a prospective
customer for the sum of $4,000.
It
appeared that during November 1944 TREVINO and MARTINEZ had arranged with a
dealer at Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, to smuggle quantities of Mexican marihuana into
the United States.
Upon
conviction they were sentenced as follows: ARANDA, 1 year and a day
imprisonment; MARTINEZ, 3 years' imprisonment; and TREVINO, 3 years'
imprisonment.
The
Mexican authorities were informed of this seizure.
In
another major marihuana case Henley SELLERS and Neil SCHAU were arrested in New
York, N. Y., in July 1944 and charged with importation and possession of 47
pounds (21 kilograms, 351 grams) of marihuana.
These men, with John W. SIMMONS of Texarkana, Tex., had smuggled the
marihuana into the United States from Mexico.
Following
indictment, all entered pleas of guilty and received sentences as follows:
SELLERS, 3 years' imprisonment; SIMMONS, 1 year and 1 day imprisonment; SCHAU,
who testified for the Government, a sentence of 2 years' imprisonment and a $300
fine, the sentence being suspended and he was placed on probation.
SELLERS had a long criminal record, including a previous conviction for
illicit dealing in marihuana.
The
marihuana in this case was intended for sale to users in night clubs in New York
City.
==
== ==
== (page 38)
IX.
Marihuana (Cannabis Sativa L, Indian Hemp)
During
1944 hemp was grown for fiber on about 57.300 acres (23,189 hectares).
Of this, approximately 14,700 acres (5,949 hectares) were grown in the
State of Illinois; 14,100 acres (5,706 hectares) in Iowa; 2,000 acres (809
hectares) in Kentucky; 6,550 acres (2,651 hectares) in Minnesota; and 19,950
acres (8,074 hectares) in Wisconsin.
No
hemp was grown for seed.
No
one registered during the year to grow the plant for the flowering or fruiting
tops for the' production of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
No cultivation of the plant for this purpose is expected.
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1945 (page 11)
PUBLICATIONS
[Reprinted with permission from the Editorial Department
of The American Medical Association, April 28, 1945, Vol. 127, page 1129,
Copyright, 1945,
by
American Medical Association].
MARIHUANA
PROBLEMS
For
many years medical scientists have considered cannabis a dangerous drug.
Nevertheless, a book called Marihuana Problems, by the New York City
Mayor's Committee on Marihuana,[4] submits an analysis by 17 doctors of tests on
77 prisoners and, on this narrow and thoroughly unscientific foundation, draws
sweeping and inadequate conclusions which minimize the harmfulness of marihuana.
Already the book has done harm. One
investigator has described some tearful parents who brought their 16-year-old
son to a physician after he had been detected in the act of smoking marihuana.
A noticeable mental deterioration had been evident for some time, even to
their lay minds. The boy said he had
read an account of the LaGuardia committee report and that this was his
justification for using marihuana. . He read in Down Beat, a musical journal, an
analysis of this report under the caption "Light Up Gates, Report Finds
“Tea’ a Good Kick.”
A
criminal lawyer for marihuana drug peddlers has already used the LaGuardia
report as a basis to have defendants set free by the court.
The
value of the conclusions is destroyed by the fact that the experiments were
conducted on 77 confined criminals. Prisoners
were obliged to be content with the quantities of drug administered.
Antisocial behavior could not have been noticed, as they were prisoners.
At liberty some of them would have given free rein to their inclinations
and would probably not have stopped at the dose producing "the pleasurable
principle." A recent tragedy,
the case of the hotel bellboy who killed a Federal guard in Oklahoma City while
under the influence of marihuana, is more eloquent testimony concerning the
dangers of the drug.
The
report states that the relation between marihuana and crime is unfounded.
This opinion, based on tests of 77 prisoners, denies much available
evidence. Kolb,
nationally known addiction expert, after reading the report, stated
"one may say of such a drug that, if it were abused as alcohol is abused,
it might be an important cause of crimes and other misdemeanors."
The annual reports of the league of Nations are
filled with cases on the relation between marihuana and crime.
Likewise the recent article which appeared in the December 1944 issue of
War Medicine, entitled "The Marihuana Addict in the Army," by Capt.
Eli Marcovitz and Capt. Henry J. Meyers, is a devastating refutation of the
information contained in the LaGuardia report.
The
report proposes the use of marihuana in the treatment of drug addiction and
chronic alcoholism. Bouquet, the
League of Nations expert, and others agree with Kolb that this proposal enters
dangerous territory and that the result can only be the substitution of one
addiction for another.
The
book states unqualifiedly to the public that the use of this narcotic does not
lead to physical, mental, or moral degeneration, and that permanent deleterious
effects from its continued use were not observed on 77 prisoners.
This statement has already done great damage to the cause of law
enforcement. Public officials will
do well to disregard this unscientific, uncritical study and continue to regard
marihuana as a menace wherever it is purveyed
Attention
is invited to a comprehensive study on MARIHUANA received in the United States
in 1945 entitled "CANNABIS SATIVA IN RELATION TO MENTAL DISEASES AND CRIME
IN INDIA" by Col. Sir Ram Nath
Chopra, C.I.E., M.D., Sc.D. (Cantab.), F.R.C.P. (Lond.), I.M.S. (Retd.), G. S.
Chopra, M.B., B.S., and I. C. Chopra, M.R.C.S., D.T.M. (Drug Addiction Inquiry,
I.R.F.A., School of Tropical Medicine, Calcutta.)
The following are excerpts from Reprint of Ind. Jour.
Med. Res., 30:
Ewens
(1904) found that the form of mental disease classed in this country as
"toxic insanity" has a direct relation to excessive use of hemp drugs.
Robertson-Milne (1906) and Dhunjibhoy (1927) also came to similar
conclusions. None of these workers,
however, studied the bearing of these drugs on the prevalence of crime.
In this paper an attempt has been made to discuss the part played by
poisons in general, and hemp drugs in particular, in producing mental
instability and crime in India.
Besides
the careful studies made on 1,500 cases of hemp drug addiction by the authors
(Chopra and Chopra, 1939), investigations were carried out in almost all the
mental hospitals of India, where inmates suffering from toxic insanity were
examined from time to time and kept under observation for a number of years.
The histories of most of the discharged cases of toxic insanity were also
studied.
The
cases in which hemp drugs were the apparent cause of insanity were studied
individually and attempts were made to obtain all possible information with a
view to determining how far the facts elicited were reasonably correct.
All doubtful cases were eliminated. In
this way it was possible to collect reliable data concerning 600 cases of hemp
drug insanity.
There
is little doubt that Cannabis sativa, like other intoxicants or nerve poisons,
may give rise to an altered state of mind which in certain cases may simulate
mania. This drug is known to have a
marked effect upon the Intellectual processes which become irregular, or even
partially or totally suspended.
In
regard to the different diagnostic symptoms, delirium frequently occurs.
Acute mental derangements due to hemp drugs are marked by extreme
vehemence of the mania. Mental,
moral, and muscular manifestations are more pronounced, and differ from those
seen in case of alcohol and other drugs. The
individual looks confused and excited, has bright shining eyes which are almost
always heavily congested. He shouts,
vociferates, sighs, walks quickly up and down or round his cell, and shakes the
door out of its fastenings. If
at liberty, he is violent and aggressive and may run amuck.
These symptoms are not so pronounced in other forms of mania.
Instances are on record where the patient under excitement got hold of a
weapon and committed murder without any reason or provocation.
The attack, however, was usually of short duration, being limited to a
few days. Later, in most cases there
was perfect recovery, but the patient was quite oblivious of things which took
place during the period of intoxication.
As
regards the relationship between hemp drug addiction and crime, there are
Instances where the addicts committed criminal acts under the effects of these
drugs, especially after smoking ganja or charas, under grave provocation or in
cold blood and with premeditation.
Excessive
indulgence in narcotics, such as Indian hemp, is apt to produce in healthy
individuals and in susceptible individuals mental confusion which may lead to
delusions with disorientation and disordered movements.
The use of hemp drugs, if pushed further than the stage of light
depression of higher centers, may produce confusion of mind and restlessness.
Intellectual impairment as well as disorientation
may show itself in various ways, such as weakening of moral sense, habit of
telling lies, prostitution, theft, etc. The
addict may become egotistic and unreliable and may have recourse to
theft, pilfering, and unnatural sex perversions.
Sometimes it may release subconscious impulses and lead to violent crime.
Our
studies in mental hospitals, in the field and in prisons show that not
infrequently addiction to hemp drugs was the immediate cause of a sudden
unbalance of mind and the commission of a crime.
==
== ==
== “(page 27)
Marihuana
Found in Death Car
Thirty-four
grains of marihuana were found in an automobile driven by John B. Payne, 19,
when it collided with another car in northeast Washington on September 23, 1945,
resulting in the death of one woman and the injury of eight other persons.
Evidence
was presented to the coroner's jury that Payne had been associated with known
marihuana traffickers and users. Under
cross examination he admitted telling doctors at an Army induction examination
that he had used as many as three marihuana cigarettes a day
Payne
and the driver of the other car were fined $250 after pleading guilty in
municipal court to charges of reckless driving.
Marihuana
Law Violator Charged as Murderer
In
Dallas, Tex., on December 15, 1940, Johnny Andrew Butler, 21, who had just
completed a prison sentence for violations of the Federal marihuana law, and
Molly Suger, 38, were charged with the slaying of Mrs. Rose Suger, her
mother-in-law. Mrs. Suger was shot
to death at her home in Dallas on July 2, 1945, by a person who fired a pistol
bullet through a window in her home.
Butler
is alleged to have admitted firing the shot, and said he was hired by Molly
Suger to kill her mother-in-law for about $500.
The murder case is pending
In
1941 Butler was convicted for violations of the Federal marihuana law and
sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. He
was again arrested on similar charges in 1943, and sentenced on January 26,
1944, to 6 months and placed on 3 years' probation.
Probation was revoked on August 8, 1944, and unconditional sentence of 6
months imposed.
Crimes
Associated with Marihuana
On
July 9, 1945, at Los Angeles, Calif., two Navy officers, Lt. Herman Haase and
Ensign Norman Bicknese, picked up an automobile ride with two 19-year-old boys,
Leslie Howard Moore and Alvin Goldson, the latter a soldier.
After the officers entered the automobile, Moore and Goldson attempted to
hold them up. Ensign Bicknese
resisted and was shot and killed by Goldson.
A few weeks later Goldson and Moore were apprehended by Los Angeles
police officers and it was ascertained that they were the leaders of a gang of
six youths preying on servicemen. In
addition to the killing of Ensign Bicknese, another member of the gang admitted
the shooting and wounding of Army Lt. Armand Beford in another "hitchhike
hold-up" on July 22, 1945. The
self-confessed trigger man of the gang, Edward Priestley, Jr., aged 16, of Los
Angeles, after his apprehension told the police he shot Lieutenant Beford at the
urging of Leslie Howard Moore, when the Army officer started to run away.
Priestley was sentenced in September in superior court to be imprisoned
from 5 years to life.
On
November 9, 19415, Leslie Howard Moore appeared before Superior Court Judge
Thomas L. Ambrose at Los Angeles, Calif., and was sentenced to life imprisonment
for murder and 12 counts of robbery. He
made the following statement in court: "If I had
never used marihuana I wouldn't be in this court today."
Asked by the court what effect the, drug had on him, Moore stated it made
him, fearless and bold. When Judge
Ambrose questioned him as to how often he indulged in use of the drug, Moore
said, "Only when with the group I accompanied on
the robberies and the murder." The judge replied, "Mr.
Moore, I wish this little sermon on the consequences of using marihuana
could be broadcast to the youth of the Nation."
Judge Ambrose also added that so many
users do not realize the danger involved
Alvin
Goldson, as a result of the murder of Ensign Bicknese, was tried by a military
court martial during August 1945 and was sentenced to life imprisonment at hard
labor. This man also claimed to be a
user of marihuana.
== ==
== (page 29)
ILLICIT
TRAFFIC IN MARIIIUANA (Cannabis Sativa L.)
Traffic
in marihuana continued to be a serious problem during 1945, although total
seizures were considerably lower than in 1944.
There
were seized by the Bureau of Narcotics in the internal traffic 41533 ounces (128
kilograms, 518 grams) of bulk marihuana, 40 ounces (I kilogram, 143 grams) of
marihuana seed, and 16,900 marihuana cigarettes, in comparison with 8,735 ounces
(247 kilograms, 639 grams) of bulk marihuana, 199 ounces (5 kilograms, 645
grams) of marihuana seed, and 13,394 marihuana cigarettes seized in 1944.
At
ports and borders, seizures by customs officers were 4,563 ounces (129
kilograms, 349 grams) of bulk, marihuana, and 1,956 marihuana cigarettes.
There was an increase late in the year in marihuana seizures at Atlantic
coast ports on vessels coming from near eastern and European ports.
The
price of marihuana cigarettes ranged from 50 cents to $1.50 each, while the
price of bulk marihuana averaged from $75 to $150 per pound
Volunteer
marihuana was eradicated by the States of New York and Pennsylvania from
approximately 118 acres (47.9 hectares).
[4]The
Marihuana Problem in the City of New York, 1945.
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1946 (page 23)
ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA (Cannabis Sativa L.)
Traffic in marihuana continued to be tin increasingly
serious problem during 1946 with seizures exceeding those of the past several
years.
There were seized by the Bureau of Narcotics in the
internal traffic 10,361 ounces (293 kilograms, 742 grams) of bulk marihuana; 110
ounces (3 kilograms, 120 grams) of marihuana seed; and 10,023 marihuana
cigarettes, in comparison with 4,533 ounces (128 kilograms, 518 grams) of bulk
marihuana; 40 ounces (1 kilogram, 143 grams) of marihuana seed; and 16,900
marihuana cigarettes seized in 1945.
At ports and borders, seizures by customs officers were
11,693 ounces (331 kilograms, 501 grams) of bulk marihuana, and 3,401 marihuana
cigarettes, in comparison with 4,563 ounces (129 kilograms, 349 grams) of bulk
marihuana and 1,956 marihuana cigarettes seized in 1945.
The aggregate weight of seizures in 1946, was 22,471 ounces (637
kilograms) as compared to 9,567 ounces (271 kilograms, 226 grams) in 1945.
The bulk of the marihuana seized by customs was on the
Mexican border where there was a continuous stream of the drug in cigarette and
bulk form.
Several cases were made during the year concerning large
scale marihuana trafficking. The
most important involved dealings in 296 pounds (134 kilograms, 266 grams) of
marihuana. The investigation
disclosed an organization which obtained marihuana from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, or
Juarez, Mexico, and this was subsequently distributed by automobile, and air, or
was shipped by railway baggage or express to New York, Ohio, California, and
Illinois. At New York City seven
persons have been convicted in this case COLONEL FAIN D’ORSAY, a principal
defendant sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment.
ARTHUR G. ZWEIER of El Paso, Tex., outwardly a respectable and successful
businessman, who helped mastermind the enterprise was given 2 years and $5,000
fine.
PAUL TASSONE and his son JOSEPH 1. TASSONE, were arrested
in Republic, Pa., in the act of transferring 2.5 pounds of marihuana.
The investigation, which was extremely difficult indicated that the elder
TASSONE for a number of years supplied large amounts of marihuana to the New
York traffic.
The price of marihuana cigarettes ranged front 25 cents to
$2.25 each, while the price of bulk marihuana averaged from $40 to $150 per
pound
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1947 (page 23)
ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA (Cannabis Sativa L.)
In 1947 there were
seized by the Bureau of Narcotics in the internal traffic 10,856 ounces (307
kilograms, 770 grams) of bulk marihuana; 198 ounces (5 kilograms, 613 grams) of
marihuana seed; and 10,060 marihuana cigarettes, weighing 230 ounces (6
kilograms, 521 grams), in comparison with 10,361 ounces (293 kilograms, 742
grams) of bulk marihuana; 110 ounces (3 kilograms, 120 grams) of marihuana seed;
and 10,023 marihuana cigarettes weighing 229 ounces (6 kilograms, 495 grams)
seized in 1946. At ports and
borders, seizures by customs officers were 16,458 ounces (466 kilograms, 578
grams) of bulk marihuana; 440 ounces (12 kilograms, 488 grams) of marihuana
seed; and 2,055 marihuana cigarettes, weighing 47 ounces (1 kilogram, 331
grams), in comparison with 11,693 ounces (331 kilograms, 501 grams) of bulk
marihuana, and 3,401 marihuana cigarettes, weighing 78 ounces (2 kilograms, 204
(grams) seized in 1946.
Customs
seizures of cannabis were frequent on the Atlantic coast, Mexican Gulf, Mexican
border, and Pacific coast, but were not as heavy in volume as during the
preceding year. There was a steady
increase in the number of seizures of marihuana on vessels arriving from
European, Indian, and Near Eastern ports. The
bulk of the marihuana seized by customs was on the Mexican border, where there
was a continuous stream of the drug in cigarette and bulk form through the ports
of Brownsville, Laredo, Hidalgo, Nogales, San Ysidro, and Calexico.
There were several seizures of marihuana on the Mexican border which were
heavier in volume than any made in the preceding year.
The
largest marihuana seizure of the year involved 143 pounds, 2 ounces, 40 grams
(64 kilograms, 925 grains), and was made at Laredo,Tex., on August 18, 1947,
from FRED N. OLIVER, ANGEL CALVO CORONADO, and PASQUAL VEGA FLORES who smuggled
it from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and then loaded it on a truck with a view to
taking it inland before they were apprehended by customs patrolmen.
Cannabis seizures at
Atlantic coast and Mexican gulf ports included 23 pounds, 8 ounces (10
kilograms, 669 grams) of dagga; 16 pounds, 12 ounces, 136.5 grains (7 kilograms,
607 grams) of hashish; 7 pounds, 10 ounces, 107 -rains (3 kilograms, 466 grams)
of takrouri; 6 pounds, 379 grains (2 kilograms, 746 grams) of charas; 10 ounces
(284 grams) of bhang; 6 ounces, 34.5 grains (172 grams) of ganja; and 2 ounces,
340 grains (79 grams) of chiras.
There were 30
seizures of takrouri and hashish on vessels arriving, from French ports; 17
seizures of ganja, bhang, and charas from Indian ports; 16 seizures of dagga
from South African ports; 16 seizures of takrouri and chiras from North African
ports; 11 seizures of takrouri and hashish from Italian ports; 6 seizures of
takrouri and hashish from Antwerp; 4 seizures of takrouri and hashish from
German ports; and 1 seizure of takrouri from a Spanish port.
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1948 (page10)
CRIMES ASSOCIATED WITH MARIHUANA
Only
Julie 30, 1948 at Cleveland, Ohio, James Buchanan was arrested by police of that
city for the murder of a 60-year-old East Cleveland widow.
After questioning by Police detectives he admitted his participation in
the crime and also accused an accomplice. Buchanan
admitted having participated, during the previous 6 montlis7 in the brutal
attack of 16 women for the purpose of robbing them of their money.
He stated further he wanted the money to buy wine and reefers (marihuana
cigarettes) which he would consume at the same time.
Before venturing out to commit their atrocious crimes, Buchanan and his
partner would fortify themselves with wine and marihuana.
Buchanan was 24 years of age at the time of his arrest, married and the
father of three children.
==
== ==
== (page 23)
ILLICIT
TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA (Cannabis Sativa L.)
In 1948 there were
seized by the Bureau of Narcotics in the internal traffic 14,899 ounces, 73
grains (422 kilograms, 394 grams) of bulk marihuana; 97 ounces, 279 grains (2
kilograms, 768 grams) of marihuana seed; and 21,678 marihuana cigarettes,
weighing 495 ounces, 213 grains (14 kilograms, 47 grams), compared with 10,856
ounces (307 kilograms, 770 grams) of bulk marihuana; 198 ounces (5 kilograms,
613 grams) of marihuana seed; and 10,060 marihuana cigarettes, weighing 230
ounces (6 kilograms, 521 grams) seized in 1947.
At ports and borders, seizures by customs officers were 36,099 ounces, 47
grains (1,023 kilograms, 416 grams) of bulk marihuana; 366 ounces, 304 grains
(10 kilograms, 396 grams) of marihuana seed; and 3,433 marihuana cigarettes,
weighing 78 ounces, 205 grains (2 kilograms, 225 grams), compared with 16,458
ounces (466 kilograms, 578 grams) of bulk marihuana; 440 ounces (12 kilograms,
488 grams) of marihuana seed; and 2,055 marihuana cigarettes, weighing 47 ounces
(1 kilogram, 331 grams), seized in 1947.
Customs
seizures of cannabis were frequent on the Atlantic coast, Mexican gulf, Mexican
border, and Pacific coast, and altogether were heavier in volume than during the
preceding year. The bulk of the
Marihuana seized by customs was on the Mexican border, where there was a
continuous stream of the drug in cigarette and bulk form through border ports
extending from Brownsville, Tex., to Calexico, Calif.
Cannabis
seizures at Atlantic coast and Mexican gulf ports included 92 seizures of
marihuana; 123 of takrouri; 59 of hashish; 17 of dagga; 2 seizures of bhang; 2
of ganja; and 1 of charas. In most
instances hashish seized appeared to be of Turkish origin, but one seizure
appeared to have originated in Syria. The
total weight of these seizures was 1,232 ounces (34 kilograms, 927 grams)
compared with 4,240 ounces (120 kilograms, 205 grams) seized in 1947.
The largest individual seizure of marihuana in 1948 weighed
5,856 ounces (166 kilograms, 19 grams) and was made on the Mexican border.
Seizures of over 1,600 ounces (45 kilograms, 360 grams) were commonplace.
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1949 (page 6)
PUBLICATIONS
A booklet entitled
Marihuana in Latin America by Pablo Osvaldo Wolff M. D., Ph. D., M. A., member
of the Expert Committee on Habit Forming Drugs of the World Health Organization,
was published in 1949 under the sponsorship of the Washington Institute of
Medicine. The title does not do
justice to the wide scope of this monograph.
While Dr. Wolff has placed particular emphasis on Latin American aspects,
his discussion is of general application and interest.
He has made a painstaking review of information on the abuse of cannabis.
It is a much-needed compilation of current knowledge in one volume.
His
consideration of the relationship between marihuana and delinquency and
criminality throws important light on this phase of the subject.
His
consideration of the weight to be given to clinical experimental observations
and to auto-observations, and their great importance in the psychiatric problems
presented by chronic marihuana excesses, is a valuable contribution.
He
has been completely impartial, which is the basic requirement for all scientific
investigation. His extensive study
of hashish (marihuana) intoxication in many countries has enabled him to give a
well-rounded picture of the destructive action of marihuana on both character
and intelligence.
==
== ==
== (page 7)
CRIMES ASSOCIATED WITH MARIHUANA
On
August 23, 1949, at San Jose, Calif., a
19-year-old youth was arrested for the unlawful possession and cultivation of
marihuana. The marihuana, which was
found growing in the flower garden of his residence, was admittedly for his own
use. In a statement to the arresting
officers this boy stated that he had read in the public library a copy of the
mayor’s report on Marihuana Problems. Because
it gave him the definite impression that marihuana was not harmful or habit
forming, he decided to try smoking it. He
stated further that as far as he was concerned the mayor’s report is erroneous
on practically all points. He said
he had to have marihuana now and that was why he had been growing it.
David
Eugene Ash was arrested at Amarillo, Tex., in the early morning of September 11,
1949, by State and county police officers for operating a vehicle while under
the influence of drugs (marihuana). Ash
had backed a large dual wheel truck over the top of a parked passenger
automobile and overturned the truck. A
quantity of marihuana was found on his person at the time of his arrest.
Ash
is a member of a notorious family and has a long criminal record, including
convictions for theft, receiving and concealing stolen property, and affray.
He has two sisters who are married to notorious narcotic addicts and
criminals. Each of the sisters was
sentenced in 1949 to serve 1 to 7 years for violation of the Kansas State
narcotic law. He has two brothers
who each have long criminal records.
THE SOUND POLICY OF A UNITED STATES
DISTRICT JUDGE
In two recent cases,
one involving narcotic drugs and the other marihuana, Hon.
William T. McCarthy, United States district judge, Boston, Mass., let it
be known that certain types of violators could expect no leniency from his
court.
Judge
McCarthy classifies narcotic violators into three groups, the lion-addict
commercial peddler; the addict peddler who sells narcotics in order to supply
his own needs and whom he calls the "convenient peddler"; and the
addict who is not a peddler. In the
first case, in refusing to accede to the pleas of the defendant's attorney for a
suspended sentence and a chance for the defendant to cure himself, Judge
McCarthy said:
I
have no faith in the philosophy of any branch of medicine which says that a drug
addict can be cured by the so-called ambulatory treatment or the reduction
treatment. It is just a racket of
those that run large hospitals which are leading these unfortunate drug addicts
on to believe they can be cured. They
can only be cured if you give them the "cold turkey" treatment---no
more drugs! Then from that comes the
build up treatment. If he didn't
have that long period of addiction which indicates that he was an habitual
addict, I would be inclined to say to you that he ought to go down to the
hospital in Kentucky. But he is not
that. He comes in the classification
that I term "convenient peddlers" who, with full knowledge of their
appetite for drugs, are perfectly willing to front for the rotten commercial
purveyor contact him, help him get the money and then in turn satisfy the
addiction of the users. *
* *
* I want each of these
fellows to know that if they come before me, they will go to the penitentiary.
If I get a commercial drug peddler, I will give him the maximum
regardless of what his record is. A
convenient drug peddler can expect to go to the penitentiary.
I am going to help the fine men of the Treasury Department enforce the
narcotic laws. * * *
In the marihuana case
the defendant had pleaded guilty and the assistant United States attorney had
recommended a sentence of imprisonment for a year and a day.
Judge McCarthy stated:
Well,
as long as I am sitting in this court, unless there are very extenuating
circumstances---and I make this statement with some reservation because I do not
want to be bound by what I say today unless there are extraordinary
circumstances---any defendant that comes before me as a commercial peddler of
drugs that come within the purview of the Harrison Act and the Federal marihuana
law will receive a penitentiary sentence. * * * After all, opium or any of its
derivatives---and this is not one---have a therapeutic
value. They bring consolation to the
sick and dying; they make their last days on this earth comfortable.
But
marihuana has no therapeutic value whatsoever.
It has been responsible for the commission of crimes of violence, of
murder and of rape. Those are
two major tributaries that flow from the use of this marihuana.
I don't say misuse of it. It
has no value of any kind. * * *
I
don't like to be harsh in cases, I would rather be kindly, but I have a job to
do, and I have a fixed, determined viewpoint on these narcotic cases.
I might suggest, Mr. Hargedon, if you had recommended a sentence of 2
years I would leave carried it out.
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1950 (page 29)
ILLICIT
TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA (Cannabis Sativa L.)
In
1950 there were seized by the Bureau of Narcotics in the internal traffic 11,413
ounces 436 grains (323 kilograms 589 grams) of bulk marihuana; 506 ounces 136
grains (14 kilograms 354 grams) of marihuana seed; and 18,940 marihuana
cigarettes, weighing 216 ounces 200 grains (6 kilograms 137 grams), compared
with 13,557 ounces 334 grains (384 kilograms 365 grams) of bulk marihuana; 160
ounces 75 grains (4 kilograms 546 grams) of marihuana seed; and 26,247 marihuana
cigarettes, weighing 299 ounces 423 grains (8 kilograms 504 grams) seized in
1949.
At
ports and borders, seizures by customs officers were 32,938 ounces 343 grains
(933 kilograms 821 grams) of bulk marihuana; 524 ounces 351 grains (14 kilograms
878 grams) of marihuana seed; and 5,928 marihuana cigarettes, weighing 67 ounces
328 grains (1 kilogram 921 grams), compared with 41,107 ounces 244 grains (1,165
kilograms 407 grams) of bulk marihuana; 151 ounces 4 grains (4 kilograms 281
grams) of marihuana seed; and 2,328 marihuana cigarettes, weighing 26 ounces 265
grains (754 grams), seized in 1949.
The
largest individual seizure of marihuana in 1950 weighed 2,992 ounces (84
kilograms 824 grams) and was made by customs agents at Laredo, Tex.
A seizure of 1,872 ounces (53 kilograms 72 grams) of marihuana was
effected by narcotic agents at New York, N. Y., on November 4 and 5, 1950.
U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
(Report
by the Government of the United States of America)
“TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS”
-
For
the year ended Dec. 31, 1952 (page 9)
NARCOTIC
DRUGS AND CRIME
During
March 1952, four youths, the youngest sixteen, robbed and murdered a filling
station attendant at Detroit, Mich. When
three of the youths were later arrested at Kirkwood, Mo., 23 marihuana
cigarettes were found in their possession. They
admitted having smoked marihuana just prior to committing this atrocious crime.
During the trial for murder in December 1952, a defense effort was made to show
that they should not be found guilty because they were so strongly under the
influence of marihuana that they didn't know what they were doing.
The jury refused to accept this as a defense found them all guilty of
murder in the first degree. The
person who was their source of supply for marihuana was apprehended by agents of
the Bureau of Narcotics and later convicted.
On
February 14, 1952, Marvin Roy Pratt was arrested by Denver police after having
committed an armed robbery. Pratt
had been under investigation by narcotic agents for dealing in and smoking
marihuana. Quantities of marihuana
were found by narcotic agents police in Pratt's automobile and his clothing.
His automobile confiscated. Pratt
was committed to the Denver County Jail and while being held there, he escaped.
On or about December 15, 1952, Pratt robbed a bank in Tustin, Calif., and
while running from the bank with his loot, he was shot and killed by the bank
teller, the teller using a high-powered game rifle.
After first being arrested in Denver Pratt had admitted to narcotic
officers to being a longtime marihuana smoker and having committed crimes while
under the influence of marihuana.
NARCOTIC
ENFORCEMENT BY CITIES
During
the year a statistical survey was made to ascertain the extent of municipal
narcotic enforcement activities in 18 cities having a population of 500,000 or
more. Sixteen of these cities have
special narcotic squads within their police departments, while on handles
narcotic violations through its morals division and another through its vice
squad.
For
the calendar year 1951 the 18 cities reported a total of 17,51? arrests in
narcotic and marihuana cases, with 7,099 convictions.
In the 16 cities reporting sentences the average length of sentence
imposed was 10.3 months. Fifteen
cities reported heroin seizures totaling 905 ounces 240 grains (25 kilograms 672
grams) in addition to 19,023 capsules of heroin.
The marihuana seizures amounted to 8,346 ounces 210 grains (236 kilograms
624 grams) of bulk marihuana and 17,014 marihuana cigarettes.
In addition more that 44,000 pounds (19,958 kilograms 528 grams) of
growing marihuana were destroyed.
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