Question

1. For what purposes was cocaine originally outlawed? Was it for medical or for another reason?
2. Why was cocaine nationally outlawed?
3. Cocaine/Crack is a Schedule 2 drug. Do some research and explain the drug scheduling system we use, and then explain why heroine is a Schedule 1 and why cocaine is a Schedule 2 drug.
4. Discuss the FSA (Fair Sentencing Act) of 2010 that served as a compromise measure that did not correct all the injustices of the crack-powder disparity. The FSA’s alterations to crack mandatory minimum sentences were not made retroactive (something only Congress can do). This has left thousands of federal crack cocaine offenders in prison today serving mandatory minimum terms that Congress, the President, and the country have now repudiated as unfair and racially discriminatory. The FSA’s 18-to-one ratio does not reflect the fact that crack and powder cocaine are the same drug in different forms, and that crack cocaine crimes are still punished more harshly than powder cocaine offenses. In your respective field of study, what can be done to move the ball forward on this? What would you like to see done and what course of action would be the most effective
5. Is it reasonable to be treating cocaine and crack addicts with jail time or should we be treating cocaine addiction as a health problem? What do you see as the answer?

Answer 1

Cocaine was originally outlawed in the United States in the year 1914 through the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act. The prime reason behind the outlawing of cocaine was the increase in violent crimes due to use of cocaine which was seen as an adverse effect of this drug that had several health benefits.It was from China that major opiates where getting impoted to United states and the congress that was the ruling party was then was debating on introducing opiate importing taxes and bringing restrictions to cocaine as to mend relation with China. The reason for classification difference between the two is that Cocaine has several medicinal properties while the same is not available for marijuana. One of the issues with the bill (FSA) was that full parity was not able to be achieved between the cracked and powder cocaine sentencing. The act has also failed to reduce sentences of those who got punished through law governed by individual state or simply telling, state laws.