CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 553

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renises, the lenel cossession of ocium is noces rily con- f ned to certain limited classes of the copulation,

Convictions for illicit possession ill also be easier to obtain in the future because the supplementary law of P.EX 2461 (1918-19), which allowed the possession of one tamlung of ocium, "ea a constant stumbling block, The penalties have clso been increased, by providing a minimum fine or a mini- mum period of incrisonment for even the smallest quantity of oplum found. (See Sections 36 and 37 of the Lar.)

30. Certain further provisions, which come into force from B.E. 2463 (1922-23). make it illegal for any person, except home smokors retailers and dealers, to possess onium pipes. Convictions for offences against this portion of the Jar should be concaratively easy to obtain, as small quanti- ties of orium are more readily concealed than are opium pipes. A period of one year has been alloyed before these provisions conefnto operet ion, in order to cermit present possessors of orium pipes to trke suitable steps to dispose of them in con- formity with the requirements of the Law. (Vide Opium Law, Title, IV).

31. Finally, there is a third set of provisions, which are to some into force from a date to be subsequently notified in the "Government Gazette", before which all smokers must be registered. Thereafter no further applications for regis- tration ill be received foxcent under "ell-defined limits, from new imigrents), and no unregistered person will be al- loged to murchase or smoke opium. (Vide Opium Lar, Title V.)

32. The various steps taken by the Government for the gradual enforcement of greater stringency in the administra- tion of the Onium Regle have now been outlined, from the time of the commencement ɗ the monopoly up to the present day. In the remaining portion of this lemorandum it is Pro- posed, in order to obtain a clearer understanding of the pol- icy of the future, designed to accomplish the final supproe- sion of opium smoking, to enter in some Actail into the sub- Jects of registration of smokers, estimated number of smokers, disposal of dross, financial aspects of the question, rq op- ium, smuggling to.

Theory of kepistration of Smokers With a View to the Ultimate Suppression of smoking.

33. Briefly, the theory is that the prohibition of smoking for those already addicted to the drug is impracticable, and that the only "ossible way is to devise norna thoroby oth- er persons shall be prevented from taking to the hɛbit, The