4.4 Early Canadian Drug Policies
Canada’s first federal narcotics law, The Opium Act (1908), prohibited the importation and use of opium for non-medical purposes (British Columbia, n.d.). The orientation of this policy and the redefining of the moral impact of opium on Canadian society, grew out of the efforts of a small group of politically/socially influential moral reformers (CDPC, 2021). In 1911, The Opium and Drug Act was enacted, adding other drugs such as cocaine and morphine to the list of prohibited substances (CDPC, 2021). This Act also expanded police powers, which contributed to the targeting of Chinese men and an increase in drug-related convictions (CDPC, 2021). The Opium and Narcotic Drug Act was passed in 1920, and various amendments were made to the Act between 1920 and 1930 (Nolin and Kenny, 2002). Among these amendments were expanded police powers, including the ability to conduct drug searches without a warrant (Nolin and Kenny, 2002).
Moral reformers or moral entrepreneurs are individuals, groups, organizations, or social movements (McGrady, June 26, 2022) who work to control or discourage a number of practices that they view as immoral (e.g., sexual activity for pleasure/or outside of marriage, gambling, not attending religious services, consuming drugs and/or alcohol (Searle, 1998). This is accomplished through attempts to persuade society to adopt and enforce community standards consistent with [the reformers] own set of ardently held moral beliefs" and ideals regarding social order (McGrady, June 26, 2022, para. 2).
