Race and Mythology in Drug Laws
Published: March 19, 2010http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/20/opinion/20sat3.html
This is an editorial displaying the unjust laws set forth by congress about two decades ago concerning the punishment for possession of crack cocaine compared to powdered cocaine. It was thought theses laws were made as a result of racism, or meant to trigger the blacks. While blacks make up 30% of all crack cocaine users, the make up 80% of the ones convicted for possession of it. Crack cocaine has been cooked with baking powder as compared to the powered kind. The argument was said that crack cocaine was more addictive, but studies show that isnt true. The punishment was 100 times stronger against crack cocaine users. The punishment for having 500 ounces of powdered cocaine was the same as having 5 ounces of crack cocaine. This week a compromise reform law was put in place in the senate bring the ration back down to 18-1.
I think this is a very interesting article. I would have never expected the US to still have such unfair laws, for i thought we got through all of those. There is definitely a hint of racism still lingering though. We need to get the house to get its act together and fix this simple law. Studies have shown there is no difference in the two drugs, so they should make it even.
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