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Boggs Act of 1951

Long title	An Act to amend the penalty provisions applicable to persons convicted of violating certain narcotic laws, and for other purposes.
Nicknames	Marihuana and Narcotic Law Violators Act of 1951
Enacted by	the 82nd United States Congress
Effective	November 2, 1951
Citations
Public law	Pub. L. 82–255
Statutes at Large	65 Stat. 767
Legislative history
Introduced in the House as H.R. 3490 by Hale Boggs (D–LA) on June 21, 1951 Committee consideration by House Ways and Means, Senate Finance Passed the House on July 16, 1951 (Passed) Passed the Senate on October 20, 1951 (Passed) Signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on November 2, 1951

The Boggs Act of 1951 amended the Narcotic Drugs Import and Export Act and set mandatory sentences for drug convictions. A first offense conviction for cannabis possession carried a minimum sentence of 2 to 10 years and a fine of up to $20,000.

History

The act was sponsored by Hale Boggs, a Louisiana Democrat. On November 2, 1951, Harry S. Truman signed the act into law.

On January 4, 1952, under the provisions of the act, over 500 people were arrested.

References

1. "Marijuana timeline". PBS. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
2. ^ "Nearly 500 Seized In Narcotics Raids Across The Nation. Arrests Here Pass 50 as U. S. Cracks Down on Peddlers Under Toughened Law. Teen-Age Trade Is Target. Officials Hope to Cut Juvenile Addiction. Big Racketeers to Face Indictment". The New York Times. January 5, 1952. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
3. "Backer of Boggs Act Dies at 76". The New York Times. February 14, 1952. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
4. ^ Health Instruction Yearbook. 1952. ISBN 9780804704564.

• 1952 in American law
• 1952 in the United States
• 82nd United States Congress
• Cannabis law in the United States
• Drug policy of the United States
• History of drug control in the United States
• United States federal controlled substances legislation
• 1952 in cannabis