What did the Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914 establish?

The Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914 established a regulatory framework for narcotics and aimed to combat the growing problem of addiction in the United States. It did not create a schedule system for controlled substances that is known today, which was later formulated under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

The Act required physicians and pharmacists to register and pay a tax for the production, distribution, and sale of narcotics. This marked the beginning of a legal framework around the control and distribution of these substances. While it did impose restrictions, it did not prohibit all narcotics outright; rather, it aimed to regulate their use through taxation and licensing.

Thus, the key elements introduced by the Harrison Narcotic Act pertained to registration and taxation of those handling narcotics, rather than the structured scheduling or outright prohibition of narcotics.