Glendale Cocaine Abuse - President Obama Seeks to End Crack/Cocaine Sentence Disparity

Glendale Cocaine Abuse - President Obama has asked Congress to revisit the existing sentencing disparity between cocaine powder and crack cocaine. The current law provides much stiffer penalties for those who abuse and sell crack cocaine.

The existing sentencing disparity was created by the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act. Under current law, someone caught selling 5 grams of crack cocaine would receive a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.

By contrast, someone would have to sell 500 grams of powder cocaine to receive the same sentence. Experts believe the existing laws unfairly discrimnate against the poor and African-Americans, who tend to use crack cocaine over the powder form.

President Obama has asked Congress to raise the amount of crack cocaine necessary to trigger a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. He is supported by over a dozen advocacy groups who have also petitioned Congress.