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The Pure Food and Drug Act
Targeted toxic drugs and was expanded to address misleading drug labels -
Harrison Tax Act of 1914
This restricted the sales of Heroin, and was also quickly used to restrict use and sales of cocaine -
The Boggs Act of 1951
Established mandatory minimum federal sentences for possession of marijuana, cocaine, and opiates, and a committee led by Senator Price Daniel called that the federal penalties be increased further, as they were with the Narcotic Control Act of 1956. -
Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act
The federal government took a more active role in drug enforcement and drug abuse prevention. Nixons speech emphasized treatment at first and used his administration's clout to push for the treatment of drug addicts, particularly heroin addicts. -
Antidrug Act of 1986
Established a 100:1 ratio for mandatory minimums associated with cocaine. It would take 5,000 grams of powdered "yuppie" cocaine to land you in prison for a minimum 10 years--but only 50 grams of crack. -
Joe Biden's 1994 Omnibus Crime Bill
Includes a provision allowing for the federal execution of drug kingpins, it indicated that the War on Drugs had ultimately reached such a level that drug-related offenses were regarded by the federal government as equivalent to, or worse than, murder and treason. -
2001 Medicine Show
A state declares that a drug can be made legal with a prescription, and the federal government bullheadedly insists on targeting it as an illegal drug anyway. This happened in 1996 when California legalized marijuana for medical use. -
Tunnel Accross Borders
Authorities announce the discovery of the longest cross-border tunnel in U.S. history, the work of what they call a well-organized and well-financed drug-smuggling group. The half-mile long tunnel links a warehouse in Tijuana, where about two tons of marijuana were seized, to a warehouse in the United States, where 200 pounds of the drug were found.
