Crack-vs.-powder disparity is questioned (Racial Discrimination Alleged)

Associated Press ^ | December 25, 2007 | Denise Lavoie

[A_Former_Democrat]

Always victims, never perps.

[muawiyah]

Used to be they thought the crimes were different. Now that we know they are the same it’s long overdue to bring about parity in punishment ~ preferably by INCREASING the time on cocaine powder use.

[Drew68]

That’s not the reality. Crack is coke + baking soda.

Yep! In fact, you can easily mix powdered cocaine with a little baking soda and smoke it off of a sheet of tin-foil and have the same high as crack.

[Drew68]

There is only one reason Crack penalties are under fire: Race. It has nothing to do with anything else and anyone who tells you different is lying.

And race is the one reason why crack penalties were higher in the first place. And anyone who tells you different is lying.

[SouthTexas]

That’s beyond my scope of knowledge. :)

[HIDEK6]

OK, I’m convinced, lets raise the powder penalties to match the crack penalties.

The obvious solution.

Beat me to it.

[Drew68]

That’s beyond my scope of knowledge. :)

Yeah, there used to be a few undesirable folks in my extended social circle.

But it is true. Take 5 grams of cocaine and you are looking at one prison sentence. Mix this five grams of cocaine with a little perfectly legal baking soda and suddenly the prison sentence is 100 times harsher.

[SouthTexas]

Oh I agree, the differential in penalties is nothing but stupid. But as we commonly see, even on this thread, people still think there is a difference, that one is worse than the other.

I haven't run in those circles in many years, so there is no "need to know". ;)

[2harddrive]

Both sentences may be too high. However, I am not sure I support the “Crackhead Equality Initiative”! Should JUDGES make up their own laws?

[Katya]

nah...there are plenty of people who smoke or have smoked crack and are not addicted. Except for drugs like heroin, the addiction rate is fairly consistent across the board...it runs along similar lines for alcoholism...ie. some people are prone to addictions. Btw...I am not a drug user, but am a proponent for sane drug laws, and find the current status a waste of taxpayer funds.