Federal Narcotics Control Board Explained

Federal Narcotics Control Board
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Superseding1:Federal Bureau of Narcotics

The Federal Narcotics Control Board (FNCB) was a Prohibition era senior level law enforcement-related organization established by the United States Congress as part of the Narcotic Drugs Import and Export Act on 26 May 1922.[1] [2] The Board was composed of the Secretaries of State, Commerce, and the Treasury.[3]

The duties of the board were;

The duties of the board were further amended;

Congressional leadership in narcotics control was handled by Steven G. Porter, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The duties of the board were transferred to the Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics on 14 June 1930.[5]

Advisory Committee[6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Each of the three departments appointed a representative to the board's Advisory Committee. This committee had no powers, and functioned solely to facilitate the board.[11]

Department of the Treasury Representative
PortraitNameJoined BoardLeft Board
Levi G. NuttMay 26, 19221929
Harry J. Anslinger1929June 14, 1930
Department of Commerce Representative
Charles C. Concannon?December 14, 1929
James O'HaraDecember 14, 1929?
Department of State Representative
William B. Norris?1925
John K. Caldwell1926June 14, 1930

Leadership of the Board

The leadership of the board was composed of the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce.

Levi Nutt was appointed by the members to be Secretary of the Board, with the vested powers of conducting correspondence on behalf of the board, and signing permits on behalf of the board. Nutt, in his dual function as Deputy Commissioner of the Narcotics Division of the Prohibition Bureau, was also responsible for issuing all import licenses for opium and other drugs.

When Nutt was removed from his position due to the scandal surrounding his son's association with the gangster Arnold Rothstein, his position and all duties were transferred to the new acting Commissioner of Narcotics, Harry J. Anslinger.

Secretary of the Board
PortraitNameJoined BoardLeft Board
Levi G. NuttMay 26, 19221929
Harry J. Anslinger1929June 14, 1930
Assistant Secretary of the Board
Manford R. Livingston??
Treasury Secretary - Board Member
Andrew MellonMay 26, 1922June 14, 1930
Secretaries of Commerce - Board Members
Herbert HooverMay 26, 1922August 21, 1928
William F. WhitingAugust 22, 1928March 4, 1929
Robert P. LamontMarch 5, 192914 June 1930
Secretaries of State - Board Members
Charles Evans HughesMay 26, 1922March 4, 1925
Frank B. KelloggMarch 5, 1925March 28, 1929
Henry L. StimsonMarch 28, 1929June 14, 1930

Dissolution

When the Federal Narcotics Control Board was dissolved, and the Federal Bureau of Narcotics was established a month later, all the duties and responsibilities of the Board were passed to the Commissioner of Narcotics, Harry J. Anslinger.

References

  1. Web site: Records of the Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA] ]. 2024-08-17 . www.archives.gov.
  2. Web site: Chap. 202 HR 2193 . 2024-08-17.
  3. Book: Charles Jeme . The Bureau Of Prohibition . 274-275.
  4. Web site: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) The Early Years . 4.
  5. Web site: Section 164, act June 14, 1930, ch. 488, ยง3, 46 Stat. 586 . 2024-08-17 . uscode.house.gov.
  6. Book: United States. Official Register of the United States 1925 . 1925 . Superintendent of Government Documents . Internet Archive . 116 . English.
  7. Book: United States Civil Service Commission . Official register of the United States ... (1926) . 1926 . Washington, U.S. Govt. print. off. . The Library of Congress . 119.
  8. Book: United States. Official Register of the United States 1927 . 1927 . Superintendent of Government Documents . Internet Archive . 120 . English.
  9. Book: United States Civil Service Commission . Official register of the United States ... (1928) . 1928 . Washington, U.S. Govt. print. off. . The Library of Congress . 122.
  10. Book: United States Civil Service Commission . Official register of the United States ... (1929) . 1929 . Washington, U.S. Govt. print. off. . The Library of Congress . 112.
  11. Book: Laurence F. Schmeckebier . The Bureau Of Prohibition Its History, Activities And Organization . 1929 . 136-137.