Why the 100 to 1 penalty ratio for crack vs cocaine?

[mercanucaribe]

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-79

Currently 5 grams of crack will get you the same penalty as [/b]half a kilo[/b] of powder cocaine- 5 years in prison.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't 500g of cocaine A LOT OF FREAKING COKE, which can be converted to A LOT OF FREAKING CRACK?

What is the rationale for the 100:1 ratio?? To protect smugglers, pharmacy school dropouts, and rich recreational coke users from long sentences that crack addicts face?

 

[mercanucaribe]

http://www.ussc.gov/crack/APPNDXB.HTM

The Probation Officers' Advisory Group reported that the majority of probation officers expressed opposition to the 100-to-1 quantity ratio. In general, they felt the ratio was unwarranted, arbitrary, and "too high." Probation officers were troubled that crack cocaine abusers, dealing to maintain their habit, receive equal if not greater penalties than the more sophisticated, powerful, and monetarily successful powder cocaine dealers. Many probation officers questioned the rationale behind these penalties.

The Commission was told that a DEA chemist advised one probation officer to use a .894 conversion figure to convert powder cocaine to crack cocaine. This conversion figure is the proportion of molecular weight of crack cocaine to that of powder cocaine (303/339). See U.S. v. Paz, 927 F.2d 176 (4th Cir. 1991). The court upheld use of this figure. One probation officer noted that under current drug laws, a defendant who sells 100 grams of pure powder cocaine will receive a lesser sentence than a defendant who sells 89.4 grams of crack cocaine, despite the fact that 100 grams of pure powder cocaine could easily be converted to 89.4 grams of crack cocaine.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

This is better placed in Politics and News -- but basically, crack is used by poor ppl in the inner city and cocaine by rich people. So the govt thinks there is more violence and danger with crack. Some people say it is just racism.

 

[slimrhcp]

I was under the impresssion that the penalty ratio for distribution charges varied because the addictive potential of crack is much greater than that of cocaine.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-79

What is the rationale for the 100:1 ratio?? To protect smugglers, pharmacy school dropouts, and rich recreational coke users from long sentences that crack addicts face?

basically, yes.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Originally posted by: slimrhcp
I was under the impresssion that the penalty ratio for distribution charges varied because the addictive potential of crack is much greater than that of cocaine.

Not really true. Although crack can be more dangerous because it is less pure.

 

[Jahee]

Because the people that make these laws are probably cokeheads themselves!

 

[crt1530]

Because crack is "for poor people."

-Whitney Houston

 

[UNCjigga]

Its because we're supposed to be keeping more black men incarcerated and off the streets, so they are unable to hold steady jobs or father their kids or advance their socio-economic status and move-in next door to my McMansion in the suburbs. Didn't you get the memo?

 

[slimrhcp]

Originally posted by: Deleted member 4644

Originally posted by: slimrhcp
I was under the impresssion that the penalty ratio for distribution charges varied because the addictive potential of crack is much greater than that of cocaine.

Not really true. Although crack can be more dangerous because it is less pure.

I'm somewhat curious as to how you would know that the addictive potential is the same?

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Originally posted by: slimrhcp

Originally posted by: Deleted member 4644

Originally posted by: slimrhcp
I was under the impresssion that the penalty ratio for distribution charges varied because the addictive potential of crack is much greater than that of cocaine.

Not really true. Although crack can be more dangerous because it is less pure.

I'm somewhat curious as to how you would know that the addictive potential is the same?

I read a lot. I guess truth be told, I have read that crack can be more addictive because it hits the blood faster, but I don't think the effect warrants a 1:100 ratio.

 

[clamum]

Wow, I didn't know that. Eh, doesn't make sense to me. Yeah 500g is a lot of fscking coke, which would make a ton more crack. That's why selling crack is a better way to make money than sell coke. You end up stretching your supply of coke longer and hence you will make more money.

As far as addiction, the difference between their addictive properties doesn't warrent that huge penalty ratio IMO.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: UNCjigga
Its because we're supposed to be keeping more black men incarcerated and off the streets, so they are unable to hold steady jobs or father their kids or advance their socio-economic status and move-in next door to my McMansion in the suburbs. Didn't you get the memo?

People who would be in jail for crack possession probably aren't going to be fathering their kids or holding steady jobs even if they aren't in jail.

Didn't you get the memo?

 

[2Xtreme21]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: UNCjigga
Its because we're supposed to be keeping more black men incarcerated and off the streets, so they are unable to hold steady jobs or father their kids or advance their socio-economic status and move-in next door to my McMansion in the suburbs. Didn't you get the memo?

People who would be in jail for crack possession probably aren't going to be fathering their kids or holding steady jobs even if they aren't in jail.

Didn't you get the memo?

Agreed. You gotta be pretty ****** stupid to do crack.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Originally posted by: Deleted member 4644

Originally posted by: slimrhcp
I was under the impresssion that the penalty ratio for distribution charges varied because the addictive potential of crack is much greater than that of cocaine.

Not really true. Although crack can be more dangerous because it is less pure.

That's not true at all. Crack has a higher potential for addiction based on it's delivery method, but don't be scammed...cocaine products in general are VERY addictive. It's like comparing Morphine pills to injection, same product...injection holds more potential for addiction based on delivery method. The law is bs anyways, what people want to do with their cocaine is their own business

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: ch33zw1z

Originally posted by: Deleted member 4644

Originally posted by: slimrhcp
I was under the impresssion that the penalty ratio for distribution charges varied because the addictive potential of crack is much greater than that of cocaine.

Not really true. Although crack can be more dangerous because it is less pure.

That's not true at all. Crack has a higher potential for addiction based on it's delivery method, but don't be scammed...cocaine products in general are VERY addictive. It's like comparing Morphine pills to injection, same product...injection holds more potential for addiction based on delivery method. The law is bs anyways, what people want to do with their cocaine is their own business

I disagree. Cocaine definately should not be legal. I just don't understand why powder cocaine has 1/100 the penalty of crack cocaine.

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: UNCjigga
Its because we're supposed to be keeping more black men incarcerated and off the streets, so they are unable to hold steady jobs or father their kids or advance their socio-economic status and move-in next door to my McMansion in the suburbs. Didn't you get the memo?

People who would be in jail for crack possession probably aren't going to be fathering their kids or holding steady jobs even if they aren't in jail.

Didn't you get the memo?

You apparently didn't get the memo with the title: SARCASM.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: ch33zw1z

Originally posted by: Deleted member 4644

Originally posted by: slimrhcp
I was under the impresssion that the penalty ratio for distribution charges varied because the addictive potential of crack is much greater than that of cocaine.

Not really true. Although crack can be more dangerous because it is less pure.

That's not true at all. Crack has a higher potential for addiction based on it's delivery method, but don't be scammed...cocaine products in general are VERY addictive. It's like comparing Morphine pills to injection, same product...injection holds more potential for addiction based on delivery method. The law is bs anyways, what people want to do with their cocaine is their own business

I disagree. Cocaine definately should not be legal. I just don't understand why powder cocaine has 1/100 the penalty of crack cocaine.

I never mentioned legality. My point was if they decide to make it into crack, the punishment should remain the same. I apologize for the confusion.