| Drug and Narcotics Law |
| Controlled Substance Act |
| Marijuana and Medical Marijuana |
| Powder and Crack Cocaine |
| Prescription Drugs |
| Heroin, Opium, and Morphine |
| Metamphetamines, Ecstasy, PCP |
Heroin, Opium and Morphine
While many people believe that all drugs of abuse are narcotics, only opiates, such as opium, morphine, heroin and codeine, are actually considered as true narcotics. The main source of non-synthetic narcotics and the essential ingredient of heroin is the plant called poppy (Papaver somniferum L.)
Opium poppies are not homegrown; they are cultivated in other countries such Mexico, Turkey, India, China, Afghanistan and some countries in Southeast and Southwest Asia. To obtain raw opium, the collector has to cut open the plant's fruiting capsule. The halved capsule exudes viscous latex, which is collected and, on some occasions, may be smoked.
The raw opium is refined to extract and purify a particular alkaloid, which is called morphine and is 10 times more potent than unrefined opium. Heroin, on the other hand, is derived from a chemical process that slightly alters morphine and is thus considered a semi-synthetic compound. Depending on the type of narcotic drug, a drug dependent may smoke, inhale, inject intravenously, or swallow a pill form of narcotics.
During the nineteenth century, it was easy to purchase heroin, opium and morphine because there were stocks readily available for over-the-counter sales at pharmacies and even grocery stores, and also by mail. The passage of the Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914 marked the start of the federal government program to regulate access to narcotics in the United States. Until now, the control of narcotics continues to be a matter of high public and police interest.
Unauthorized possession or sale of heroin, opium, morphine and other narcotics is a criminal offense in all states, as well as the federal government. Several states have also passed statutes making it against the law to be under the influence of narcotics. Because there is a great probability that you will be prosecuted for a federal offense if you are caught in possession or engaged in the sale of heroin, opium or morphine, it would be to your best interest to hire a lawyer who can protect your rights.