100 Years Ago This Week: Feb. 27-March 6

From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, March 2, 1915: The war on “dope” has begun. The federal narcotic law which is expected to prove a powerful weapon in combating the use of habit forming drugs went into effect in Indianapolis at midnight, and about 7,000 wholesale dealers, physicians, dentists and veterinarians rushed to register. Fine and imprisonment await any person who sells or gives away habit forming drugs without the prescription of a physician. All who import, produce or dispense derivatives or preparations from opium and coca leaves such as morphine, cocaine and heroin must maintain an inventory of the stock that can be made available for examination at any time by public officers. Physicians must keep a list of patients receiving these drugs and the dosage prescribed. The law is designed to prevent “dope fiends” from obtaining drugs illegally.