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. The Board was composed of the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Commerce.
The duties of the board were;
To prohibit opium imports for other than medical purposes To limit exports to nations with an adequate licensing system
The duties of the board were further amended;
To outlaw the manufacture of heroin in the U.S.
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.
Advisory Committee Sources:
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.
Department of the Treasury RepresentativePortraitNameJoined BoardLeft BoardLevi G. NuttMay 26, 19221929Harry J. Anslinger1929June 14, 1930Department of Commerce RepresentativeCharles C. Concannon?December 14, 1929James O'HaraDecember 14, 1929?Department of State RepresentativeWilliam B. Norris?1925John K. Caldwell1926June 14, 1930
Leadership of the Board Sources:
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 BoardPortraitNameJoined BoardLeft BoardLevi G. NuttMay 26, 19221929Harry J. Anslinger1929June 14, 1930Assistant Secretary of the BoardManford R. Livingston??Treasury Secretary - Board MemberAndrew MellonMay 26, 1922June 14, 1930Secretaries of Commerce - Board MembersHerbert HooverMay 26, 1922August 21, 1928William F. WhitingAugust 22, 1928March 4, 1929Robert P. LamontMarch 5, 192914 June 1930Secretaries of State - Board MembersCharles Evans HughesMay 26, 1922March 4, 1925Frank B. KelloggMarch 5, 1925March 28, 1929Henry 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.
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