Illegal Heroin and United States Law

There is no such thing as legal heroin in the United States. Classified as a Schedule I narcotic, heroin is illegal in any amount and any form. Whether it’s white heroin, black tar heroin or brown powdered heroin, if you have it in your possession, then it is a violation of heroin laws, and you will be subject to arrest and prosecution. Here’s how those laws against heroin developed:

City and State Ordinances Making Heroin Illegal

Individual cities and states made the use of heroin and other opiates illegal as they saw fit for their community before 1890. In general, the focus of these laws was opium as opium dens were quite popular at the time. Medications based on these drugs were not considered illegal, however, and it would be some time before the heroin trade would be taxed or in any way controlled legally.

Federal Law and Illegal Heroin

The first Congressional Act regarding heroin and other opiates was enacted in 1890. The focus at first was not on consumption or use but that federal taxes be levied on each sale of morphine and opium.

1906: Pure Food and Drug Act

Regulation of the production, distribution and sale of food and drugs as well as labeling laws for those that have been altered in any way was the focus of this federal decision. For those who chose to break prior trafficking laws, fines and prison time would be the consequence for the first time.

1909: Smoking Opium Exclusion Act

The first law to ban the non-medical use of any substance, opium-based medications was not regulated but smoking marijuana was.

1914: The Harrison Act

Everyone involved in the importation, exportation, manufacture or distribution of opium and a few other drugs was required to register with the United States government and pay taxes on their earnings.

1919: Webb et al., v. United States

The Supreme Court banned the prescription of supplies to use narcotics.

1924: Heroin Act

The heretofore unregulated manufacture, distribution and possession of heroin for medicinal use was deemed illegal.

1922: Narcotic Drug Import and Export Act

Tighter restrictions for the importing and exporting of heroin as well as heroin sales, possession of the drug and its use.

Heroin, a highly addictive opiate drug, is growing quickly in popularity in the United States. The fastest acting of the opiate drugs, heroin has the propensity to change the chemical structure of your brain in just one use. It is sold as either a white powder, a light brown powder, or another form of heroin known as "black tar" heroin. More common along the eastern coast of the United States, white heroin is usually cut with starch or sugar and, in some cases, strychnine.