Powder cocaine is the most pure form of the drug, containing the most pure ingredients and derives strictly from a plant. The penalties depend on the type of drug or substance, the amount you have, and whether youre also dealing or producing it. College basketball star len bias died of a powder cocaine overdose while celebrating his number one draft pick in the 1986 nba draft. The difference between crack and cocaine adt healthcare. Crack cocaine first hit the national radar in 1986 but, contrary to media reports, it was not a new drug. Meaning of crack cocaine, race, and the war on drugs as a legal term.
A comprehensive examination of the 100to1 crack versus powder cocaine sentencing disparity under which distribution of just 5 grams of crack carries a minimum 5year federal prisonsentence, while distribution of 500 grams of powder cocaine carries the same 5year mandatory minimum sentence. The drug comes in a fine, white crystalline powder. Unjustified and unreasonable overview crack cocaine became prevalent in the mid1980s and received massive media attention due in part to the death of college basketball star len bias subsequently found to have used powder cocaine on the night of his death and not crack. Cocaine, on the other hand, is associated with the affluent.
Cocaine is derived from the coca plant, which is indigenous to south america. Use is highest in north america followed by europe and south america. His death sparked a national media frenzy largely focused on the drug that was suspected, mistakenly, of killing him crack cocaine. If you would like to share this infographic with your readers, feel free to copy and paste the code bellow into your own blog post. The current penalties, which clintons action endorsed, have been criticized for the disparity between the punishment for those convicted of possessing or selling crack cocaine, who generally are.
Powder cocaine is produced from a mixture of hydrochloric acid and the coca paste that comes from the leaves of the coca plant. A line of cocaine powder sitting on top of a coca plant. The coca plant by itself isnt addictive or harmful to humans. Crack or freebase can be smoked through a glass pipe, tube, plastic bottle or in foil, but this is less common. Cocaine powder, freebase, and crack cocaine is derived from the coca plant, which, upon consumption, anesthetizes and stimulates the central nervous system. While the powdered form of cocaine is simply referred to as cocaine or coke, the rock form is often referred to as crack or crack cocaine. The new law significantly reduces the cocaine sentencing quantity disparity from 100 to 1 to 18 to 1 by raising the quantity of crack cocaine necessary to trigger the five and tenyear mandatory minimum sentences first set in 1986. Sentencing disparities between crack cocaine 2005, february 21 retrieved april 8, 2020, from. Download 32page term paper on sentencing disparities between crack cocaine vs. Therefore, those addicted individuals who are incarcerated for the sale or possession of cocaine are better served by treatment than prison. Crack cocaine is made by dissolving powder cocaine a derivative of coca leaves and baking soda in boiling water and then cutting the resulting paste into small. The manual of adolescent substance abuse treatment calls it the most addictive form of cocaine.
Cracking the racial disparity for cocaine sentencing. While there are some key differences between cocaine and crack, misuse or addiction to either of them requires professional rehabilitation treatment. The fair sentencing act changed a regime that essentially treated one gram of crack cocaine as the equivalent of 100 grams of powder cocaine. Physical symptoms may include a fast heart rate, sweating, and large pupils.
Download page term paper on disparity in sentencing for crack vs. Primarily due to the increased violence surrounding cocaine distribution and use, maryland authorities crack down heavily on both sale and possession of cocaine. Crack is cheaper, so its found in low income communities more than pure powder cocaine. Crack is produced by dissolving powdered cocaine in a mixture of water and ammonia or baking soda. Crack and cocaine are highly addictive stimulant drugs that are derived from the coca plant found in south america. These rocks are then broken into pieces and sold in small. Between 14 and 21 million people use the drug each year. There is a 5year minimum prison penalty for a firsttime trafficking offense involving 5 grams or more of crack cocaine or 500 grams or more of powder cocaine and a 10year mandatory minimum penalty for a firsttime trafficking offense involving 50 grams or more of crack cocaine or 5,000 grams or more of powder cocaine. With further processing, crack cocaine can be produced from cocaine. Another difference between crack and cocaine relates to the high produced. New drug law narrows crack, powder cocaine sentencing gap.
Nov 05, 2014 cocaine is a schedule ii controlled substance in north carolina, meaning its illegal to possess, manufacture, or sell cocaine or crack cocaine. To understand the problem blacks face with crack vs. Crack and cocaine may be nearly identical on a molecular level, but people who are charged with possession of just 1 gram of crack are given the same sentence as those found in possession of 18. Both cocaine and crack can have similar withdrawals, however, one difference is that because the high from the crack is an intensified version to that of cocaine, its over faster and adverse symptoms occur sooner. For example, according to new york university possessing 500 grams of powder cocaine carries the same penalty as possessing 28 grams of crack. Cocaine is an often abused drug, derived from the coca plant, and its found in both powder and rock forms. Ronald reagan, targeted high level crack cocaine dealers, 100. As noted above, the penalties for crack cocaine possession may be greater than for powder cocaine. Nov 20, 1996 although crack cocaine has been linked with crime to a greater extent than cocaine hydrochloride, many of these crimes are associated with the addiction to cocaine. An exception to the mandatory minimum drug penalties was created by congress in 1994 for certain firsttime, nonviolent, lowlevel drug offenders. This legislation enacted an astounding 100to1 disparity in crack vs.
Feb 19, 2015 socioeconomically disadvantaged adults are more likely to use crack over powder cocaine, and are thus more likely to be subject to arrest. If you have a loved one who may be suffering from crack or cocaine addiction, a facility specializing in cocaine rehab may be helpful. At the time, possession of crack cocaine resulted in penalties 100 times higher than possession of an equal amount of the powdered form. The difference between crack and cocaine powder cocaine powder is derived from coca paste, which is in turn derived from the leaves of the coca plant. Cocaine is a drug derived from the leaves of the coca plant a plant that is native to.
Crack cocaine, race, and the war on drugs legal definition. Cocaine possession, manufacture, and sale are also illegal under federal law. Drugs and behavior chapter 6 cocaine flashcards quizlet. Crack was created as a cheaper alternative to cocaine. Crack usage has a history of usage by the urban poor. Differences based on criminal penalties criminal penalties for possession and sale of cocaine or crack are very severe. Both cocaine and crack are highly addictive stimulants. Crack vs cocaine usage is influenced strongly by cost. Data show racial disparity in crack sentencing congress passed the fair sentencing act to make punishments for crack and cocaine more equal. Both drugs affect how the brain responds to dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for feeling pleasure and contentment. Crack cocaine is made by taking cocaine powder and cooking it with baking soda and water until it forms a hard substance. Cocaine possession, sale, and trafficking are felonies in nearly every state. Powder cocaine use is more evenly spread among ethnic backgrounds, and more white americans have tried powder cocaine than black americans. Crack is a derivative of cocaine that was developed in the 1970s, and it is the most potent version of the cocabased stimulant currently available.
While the reality is that crack cocaine does carry stricter punishment than powder cocaine, research has shown that since they are essentially the same drug, there is no pragmatic reason for harsher penalties for crack cocaine use and distribution. Crack cocaine is made by dissolving powder cocaine a derivative of coca leaves and baking soda in boiling water and then cutting the resulting paste into small rocks after it dries. The difference between crack cocaine and powder cocaine powder cocaine is made from coca paste, which is derived from the leaves of the coca plant. Once an individual has tried either of these two drugs they cannot predict or control the extent to which they may continue to use them. The sentencing disparities between crack and cocaine attn.
The difference between powder cocaine and crack cocaine. Crack is more likely to be used by africanamericans. Congress for the first time distinguished between crack and powder cocaine. President obama signed a new law at the white house today that will close the longdisputed gap in federal sentencing for crack vs. What is crack cocaine differences between crack and cocaine. Cocaine and crack are both powerfully addictive drugs. The reality is, as i understand it, is that crack is the exact same drug as powder cocaine, the sole difference being crack does not contain the nonpsychoactive hcl molecule, thus making it. Hbos the wire crack vs cocaine the differences between the punishments with crack and cocaine has been an issue with the war on drugs not many politicians, or americans, are willing to face. Here is a brief summary of cocaine laws in the state. The maximum penalties for drug possession, supply selling, dealing. Crack cocaine often nicknamed crack after the sound made during its manufacture is a lowerpurity form of freebase cocaine and contains sodium bicarbonate as impurity. Less frequently consumed forms of cocaine include coca leaves, coca paste, and freebase cocaine. Cocaine is typically snorted, and crack is typically smoked. Cocaine and crack cocaine are so different, in fact, that the criminal punishments associated to their use and possession are very different.
This law was enacted to reduce the statutory penalties for crack offenses. Definition of crack cocaine, race, and the war on drugs in the legal dictionary by free online english dictionary and encyclopedia. The legislation also eliminates the mandatory minimum for simple possession of crack cocaine. Powder cocaine, also called coke, nose candy, snow, blow, or toot, is a drug of abuse that is an offwhite colored powder derived from the coca plant, which is indigenous to the western region of south america for example, argentina, bolivia, columbia, ecuador and peru. Crack and cocaine are both drugs created from the coca plant but have a different level of refinement. Possession of 500 grams of powder cocaine yields a 5year mandatory sentence in minimum. Both crack and cocaine are derived from the same type of coca plant. Federal crack cocaine sentencing the sentencing project. Crack cocaine is simply made by taking powder cocaine and cooking it with baking soda and water until it forms a hard rocky substance. Crack vs cocaine the differences between the punishments with crack and cocaine has been an issue with the war on drugs not many politicians, or americans, are willing to face. Before 1986, federal laws treated crack and cocaine the same. When injected, cocaine reaches the brain within one minute and the effects last for up to 30 minutes.
The reason only half of the drug users switch between crack and cocaine has to do with the stigma associated with crack usage. This difference in street price has lead to demographic differences between people smoking crack cocaine and those injecting or snorting powdered cocaine. Cocaine is taken by sniffing, snorting, or injecting. No matter where you live, if you are charged with possession of cocaine, you are facing at least some jail time, and anytime your freedom is on the line you need someone advocating for your best interests. Cocaine possession laws are some of the strictest drug laws on the books. Cocaine is a white powder derived from the leaves of the coca shrub, a plant that. A person smoking crack cocaine as compared to snorting or injecting powder cocaine experiences a faster, more intense high simply because smoke in the lungs affects the brain more quickly than the other methods of ingestion. What does crack cocaine, race, and the war on drugs mean in law. President obama signed a new law tuesday that closes a decadesold gap in federal sentencing that led to much stiffer penalties for crack cocaine cases than ones involving powder cocaine. The slowest onset of cocaines effects occurs when it is snorted, and this can take up to 20 minutes. Smoked crack cocaine is also insanely euphoric, but a very shortlived and fiendish high, which often leads to compulsive. Cocaine usually comes in a white powder form but the drug can also be mixed with other chemicals and cooked to create a hard form known widely as crack. The rocks are usually sold in single doses to users who smoke them. Cocaine, also known as coke, is a strong stimulant most frequently used as a recreational drug.
This type of center should offer comprehensive treatment. Addressing the sentencing disparity of crack cocaine vs. Crack and cocaine also differ in the manner in which they are used. Powder cocaine is made from coca paste, which is derived from the leaves of the coca plant. Crack cocaine, also known simply as crack or rock, is a free base form of cocaine that can be smoked. Cracks in the system american civil liberties union. Users report that when cocaine is ivd it creates a bellringing noise in ones ear followed by an extremely intense euphoria far stronger and not even comparable to that of insufflated cocaine. Specifically, it lists coca erythroxylon, its preparations, derivatives, alkaloids, and salts, including. Jul 29, 2019 crack cocaine is made by dissolving powdered cocaine in a mixture of water and baking soda sodium bicarbonate or ammonia.
Crack first saw widespread use as a recreational drug in primarily impoverished neighborhoods in new york city, philadelphia, baltimore, washington, d. Cocaine powder, freebase, and crack drug war facts. The us sentencing commission provided this analogy in 1997 to support equalizing penalties for crack and powder cocaine. However, this amount differs with other species of coca leaves, since one species has higher levels of cocaine alkaloid and requires fewer leaves to create cocaine base.
Learn how powder cocaine and crack differ in their appearance. The cocaine base can then be converted into a kilogram of cocaine hydrochloride or powdered cocaine. A comprehensive examination of the 100to1 crack versus powder cocaine sentencing disparity under which distribution of just 5 grams of crack carries a. The process to make crack cocaine involves mixing the powder form of cocaine with some base, such as baking soda or another substance, boiling it in water, and then removing the baking soda, which removes the hydrochloride. The mixture of ammonia or baking soda with the cocaine base creates a brownish or yellowishwhite rock, which is smoked. Data show racial disparity in crack sentencing us news. It is only through a long chemical process that involves many. Cocaine possession may also be punished by the states.
Because his death was widely, although mistakenly, thought to be due to a. Psy 330 chapter 6 final science flashcards quizlet. Cocaine possession laws cocaine drug charge penalties. Congress is considering a bill to change drug laws that punish crack cocaine violations more severely than those for powder cocaine. Thus crack cocaine tends to be cheaper, faster acting, and the high lasts for a shorter period of time, compared to inhaling powder cocaine. Possession of a schedule i substance is illegal and trafficking can result in punishment of up to life imprisonment. How quickly the effects are felt differs based on how it is taken, as do the ways in which the associated harms can be reduced. Cocaine and federal sentencing policy vii ten percent of the drug is lost during the conversion process.
Written statement submitted by carol chodroff, us advocacy director, to the house judiciary committee, subcommittee on crime. Maryland distinguished between offenses involving powder cocaine and crack cocaine using a 9to1 ratio, according to a 2002 report to congress. I feel like most people assume crack is the dirtest drug out there, even amongst some cardcarrying cokeheads. Crack cocaine is less pure, with infusions of sodium bicarbonate included, making it a drug that can be smoked to receive the high effects. Mental effects may include loss of contact with reality, an intense feeling of happiness, or agitation. The original cocaine comes from a paste made from the leaves of the south american coca plant. Cocaine is the second most frequently used illegal drug globally, after cannabis.
Powder cocaine is much more expensive than crack cocaine. This mixture is boiled, dried, and broken into rocklike chunks. A comprehensive examination of the 100to1 crack versus powder cocaine sentencing disparity under which distribution of just 5 grams of crack carries a minimum 5year federal prisonsentence, while cracks in the system. It is commonly snorted, inhaled as smoke, or dissolved and injected into a vein. Crack and cocaine are both derived from the coca plant but differ in formulation, routes of administration, price and even punitive charges. Before you know it, law enforcement is beating on your door, and once they are in your apartment they spot a rocklike substance on your coffee table. After a decade of contentious debate regarding the federal sentencing disparities between crack cocaine and powder cocaine, a number of significant initiatives to reform current.
The difference between crack cocaine and powder cocaine. The root of the problem started in 1986 with the antidrug abuse act, signed by president ronald reagan. Cocaine can be described as a toxic substance that, although naturally derived from a plant, can cause stimulant effects that result in a shortlived high which lasts anywhere from a few. Cocaine hydrochloride is a central nervous system stimulant derived from the coca plant. Crack cocaine is essentially the same substance as powdered cocaine but in a different form. Cocaine is an often abused drug, derived from the coca plant, and its found in both powder. Aug 03, 2010 data show racial disparity in crack sentencing congress passed the fair sentencing act to make punishments for crack and cocaine more equal. Supreme court weighs whether law reducing crack cocaine.