| Drug and Narcotics Law |
| Controlled Substance Act |
| Marijuana and Medical Marijuana |
| Powder and Crack Cocaine |
| Prescription Drugs |
| Heroin, Opium, and Morphine |
| Metamphetamines, Ecstasy, PCP |
Powder Cocaine and Crack Cocaine
Cocaine, a potent stimulant that speeds up the functioning of the central nervous system and also a powerful local anesthetic, is taken from the leaves of the coca plant in South America or it may be produced synthetically. Powder cocaine, sometimes referred to as coke, is a pure white powder which is commonly snorted from a spoon or straw.
Crack cocaine, otherwise known as free base cocaine, is made by heating powder cocaine mixed with ammonia or baking soda in water. The heat causes a reaction that produces a precipitate of the mixture.
Crack cocaine is cheaper, and is said to be four to five times stronger and much more addictive than powder cocaine. Addiction often leads to theft, prostitution, and "dealing" in order to obtain the money needed to purchase more crack cocaine. For this reason, and as part of the government's war on drugs program, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 was passed by the U.S. Congress. Among other things, the Act sets a mandatory federal prison sentence of 5 years, for those caught trafficking at least 5 grams of crack cocaine, and 10 years for those trafficking 50 grams or more.
For an individual to get a 5-year mandatory federal prison sentence for trafficking powder cocaine, he or she must be found to have trafficked 500 grams of powder cocaine. This means that the amount needed to convict on powder cocaine trafficking charges must be 100 times compared to that of crack cocaine.
Although possession of at least 5 grams crack cocaine is needed to receive the 5-year prison sentence, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 also prescribes that mere possession of crack or powder cocaine, or any other illegal drug, is a misdemeanor offense and first-time offenders will be sentenced to one year in prison if convicted.
Since mere possession of cocaine, whether crack or powder, is already considered a federal crime, make sure you are represented by a defense attorney of your own choice if you are charged for such offense.