Chinese Emperor Bans Opium

July 1729

The Yongzheng Emperor issued an edict prohibiting the sale and smoking of opium throughout the Qing Empire, noting its spread among soldiers and officials. The ban was largely ignored. A century later, when British merchants industrialized the trade, this early prohibition would look less like prudence than prophecy. The drug that the emperor tried to stamp out would eventually bring his dynasty to its knees.