Pharmacologically
the same drug,crack and powder cocaine are treated very
differently within the walls of our justice system. Current policy
generates a 100 to 1 penaltyratio for crack-related offenses. For
instance, possession of only 5 grams of crack-cocaine yields a 5 year
mandatory minimum sentence,however it takes 500 grams of powder cocaine
to prompt the same sentence.Moreover,crack-cocaine is the only
drug for which the first offense of simple possession can trigger a
federal mandatory minimum sentence.Yet" simple possession of any
quantity of any other substance by a firsttime offender-
including powder cocaine- is a misdemeanor offense punishable by
a maximum of one year in prison."(21U.S.C.844). [more] and [more]
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