The Opium War and the Acts Related To It

Introduction

Illegal drugs and misuse of medicines are the most common trend in addiction to the society. The government and the other national security are aiming to provide the appropriate solution to eliminate the illicit drugs in the list by banning the suspicious products. As traced back in early years, opium poppies (Papaver somniferum) are the most popular kind of drug. Although most of the countries used this plant as part of their food and medicine, the cultivation of the poppies remains restricted. The issue of legality and production are still in the control of the United Nations Drug Control Program. In the participation of the other countries, anyone who is proven associated with the opium poppies are put into jail, while other government places restriction on it consumption. For over the years, the increase number of users in the world became an alarming situation and the blames centered on the failure of leadership, inadequate training of health care workers and insufficient power over the drug control effort. In this paper, we will address the brief history of opium war, the acts imposed dedicated for the opium poppies, and the effects on India.

War over the Opium Poppies

Around 3400 B.C. the opium poppy is cultivated in lower part of Mesopotamia. The Sumerians refer to it as Hul Gil, the 'joy plant.' The Sumerians would soon pass along the plant and its euphoric effects to the Assyrians. The art of opium poppy-culling would continue from the Assyrians to the Babylonians who in turn would pass their knowledge onto the Egyptians. In the continuous passing of knowledge regarding the cultivation of the poppies and trading, people are hypnotized by this small plant. Accordingly, in the year of 1839, Lin Tse-Hsu, imperial Chinese commissioner in charge of suppressing the opium traffic, orders all foreign traders to surrender their opium. In response, the British send expeditionary warships to the coast of China, whereas beginning The First Opium War. In 1841, The Chinese are defeated by the British in the First Opium War. Along with paying a large indemnity, Hong Kong is ceded to the British. In the latter year, The Treaty of Nanking between the Queen of Great Britain and the Emperor of China was made. Because of the discovery of new technique of administering morphine, injection with a syringe by Dr. Alexander Wood, he finds the effects of morphine on his patients instantaneous and three times more potent. Around 1852, the British arrive in lower Burma, importing large quantities of opium from India and selling it through a government-controlled opium monopoly. And in 1856, the British and French renew their hostilities against China in the Second Opium War. In the aftermath of the struggle, China is forced to pay another indemnity. The importation of opium is legalized and followed with the increase production of opium along the highlands of Southeast Asia.

Acts against the Poppies

In 1886, the Britain passes the Opium Act with hopes of reducing opium consumption. Under the new regulation, the selling of opium is restricted to registered Chinese opium smokers and Indian opium eaters while the Burmese are strictly prohibited from smoking opium. The success of the restriction and strict monopoly of opium trade reached the America (1890) and created the earliest-law enforcement legislation on narcotics, imposes a tax on opium and morphine. However, the continuous rise in the addiction pushed the US Congress to ban opium.

The U.S. Congress passes the Pure Food and Drug Act requiring contents labeling on patent medicines by pharmaceutical companies. As a result, the availability of opiates and opiate consumers significantly declines. Because of the immoral and evil effects of opium and after 150 years of failed attempts to rid the country of opium, the Chinese are finally successful in convincing the British to dismantle the India-China opium trade. The passage of Harrison Narcotics Act is established which aims to curb drug (especially cocaine but also heroin) abuse and addiction. It requires doctors, pharmacists and others who prescribed narcotics to register and pay a tax. Despite the ban in opium, there is a continuous selling of poppies because of the opening of the black market in the New York’s Chinatown.

India – Struggle in Opium

During World War II, opium trade routes are blocked and the flow of opium from India and Persia is cut off. Fearful of losing their opium monopoly, the French encourage Hmong farmers to expand their opium production. The law that controls over the cultivation of Opium and all matters relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are regulated by the "Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and Rules" (NDPS Act & Rules), which provides –

1. punishment of up to 20 years Rigorous Imprisonment and fine of up to Rs.2 lakhs for indulging in trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances

2. death sentence in case of repeat of this offence

3. forfeiture of property of smugglers and their relatives and ascendants

4. regulates the legitimate trade and commerce of NDPS for medicinal and scientific purposes The "Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances" (PITNDPS) provides for detention of persons indulging in trafficking of narcotic drugs for 1 to 2 years by an Executive Order.

References:

Booth, M., (1996) Opium: A History, Simon & Schuster, Ltd., [Online] Available at: http://opioids.com/timeline/ [Accessed 19 July 2010]

Gunaah, M., (2003) Opium Trading in India: Almost a Century Old [Online] Available at: http://www.opioids.com/opium/opium-trading.html [Accessed 19 July 2010]

Scott, R.B., (2007) Opium Poppy Cultivation Central Helmand, Afghanistan: A Case Study in Bad Program Management [Online] Available at: http://easterncampaign.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/2007.pdf [Accessed 19 July 2010].