Gap In Federal Cocaine Sentences To Narrow

[thundley4]

The House voted Wednesday to reduce the disparity in prison sentences for people caught with crack cocaine versus those who possess the drug in powder form.

The action — done by voice vote, not a roll call — culminates nearly 25 years of lobbying by civil rights groups who say the sentences disproportionately hurt minorities. The Senate passed the legislation in March. President Obama is expected to sign it into law.

Members of Congress who voted for the change are correcting what they say was an overreaction when lawmakers passed tough criminal sentences for crack cocaine possession during an epidemic of drug violence in the 1980s. At the time, lawmakers thought the rock form of cocaine was more addictive and that people who used crack committed more violence. But critics began to debunk those theories.

South Carolina Democrat James Clyburn talked about what he called the panic of the '80s. "We now know there is little if any pharmacological distinction between crack cocaine and powder cocaine. Yet the punishment for these offenses remains radically different," Clyburn said.

Very different, said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD).

"Possessing an amount of crack equal to the weight of two pennies has resulted in a mandatory minimum sentence of five years," Hoyer said. "In order to receive a similar sentence, possessing chemically similar powder cocaine, one would have to be carrying a hundred times as much cocaine."

  NPR

Let's reduce drug penalties.  I believe this something that Lord Zero talked about on the campaign trail. Crack cocaine penalties targeted minorities.

[vesta111]

  NPR

Let's reduce drug penalties.  I believe this something that Lord Zero talked about on the campaign trail. Crack cocaine penalties targeted minorities.

Thundley, what on earth do you mean when you say Crack targeted minority's ?

Kind of like saying GoodWill targets the poor and beer the red necks.

[thundley4]

Thundley, what on earth do you mean when you say Crack targeted minority's ?

Kind of like saying GoodWill targets the poor and beer the red necks.

Almost since the unequal penalties for crack were made into law, there have been groups claiming that crack laws were only made stiffer than cocaine, because crack is mainly used by minorities.   

[vesta111]

Almost since the unequal penalties for crack were made into law, there have been groups claiming that crack laws were only made stiffer than cocaine, because crack is mainly used by minorities.   

Silly me, I thought crack and cocaine were the same thing, about all I know about these drugs are what I see on TV.

Man made drugs I am familiar with and hate them, they space me out.  It amazes me that people can function on any kind of pain pills.  After shattering my knee cap I was in the hospital and receiving some darn thing for pain.  I was in for a week and when I got home found all kinds of cards and letters I have no memory of getting.

[JohnnyReb]

I guess crack is better than free basing the powder...Richard Pryor on fire...

[PatriotGame]

Silly me, I thought crack and cocaine were the same thing, about all I know about these drugs are what I see on TV.

Man made drugs I am familiar with and hate them, they space me out.  It amazes me that people can function on any kind of pain pills.  After shattering my knee cap I was in the hospital and receiving some darn thing for pain.  I was in for a week and when I got home found all kinds of cards and letters I have no memory of getting.

It is very simple:
Minorities predominately vote Democrat. The obvious here is...obvious.