Below is the a copy of the annual report of the United States War Department:

The opium law, Act No. 1461, entitled “An act for the purpose of restricting the sale and suppressing the evil resulting from the sale and use of opium until March 1, 1908, when its importation or use for any but medicinal purposes is forbidden by act of Congress” enacted by the Philippine Commission March 8, 1906, and made effective April 1, 1906, remained in operation until October 16, 1907. On October 10, 1907, a new opium law, Act No. 1761, was enacted by the Philippine Commission and made effective October 17, 1907. This law is entitled “An act gradually to restrict and regulate the sale and use of opium pending the ultimate prohibition of the importation of opium into the Philippine Islands in whatever form, except for medicinal purposes, as provided by the act of Congress approved March third, nineteen hundred and five, and prohibiting any person from having the possession of opium, cocaine, or alpha or beta eucaine in any of their several forms or any derivative or preparation of any such drugs or substances, except for medicinal purposes, and to repeal Act Numbered Fourteen hundred and sixty-one, and for other purposes.” As is shown by its title, the last opium law enacted had for its object the gradual suppression of the opium evil, the prohibiting of the importation and the use of opium, and the use of cocaine, except for medicinal purposes, and after March 1, 1908. As in the case of the first opium law, this bureau was charged with the enforcement of Act No. 1761 and with the collection of the license and other taxes imposed by its provisions.

United States War Department Annual Report, 1908

At the time the new law became effective, there had been 12,668 registered habitual users of opium in country.

Arrangements were made by the director of health for hospital treatment of those desiring to cure themselves of the opium habit. Treatment was given in Manila, Iloilo, and Cebu. Indigent persons desiring to cure themselves of the habit had been given treatment at the expense of the government, while those able to do so were required to pay a nominal fee.

Sources:

United States War Department Annual Report, 1908.

http://www.kahimyang.com

Published by Pastorbluejeans Unplugged

Friend of a Jewish Carpenter. View all posts by Pastorbluejeans Unplugged