Drug Crimes

“Drug offenses include the possession, sale, or manufacture of illicit drugs. Many drug offenses are felonies and are punishable by at least one year in prison. Some drug offenses—particularly the possession of small amounts of marijuana—are misdemeanors. People convicted of misdemeanor drug crimes may receive a fine and/or a sentence of less than one year in a local jail. Some jurisdictions treat the possession of very small amounts of marijuana (e.g., less than 1 ounce [28 g]) as an infraction, rather than as a misdemeanor. Infractions are minor offenses, such as traffic violations, that are punishable only with fines, not with incarceration. Drug laws are complex and can differ between jurisdictions. In general, the seriousness of an offense and the harshness of its penalty are based on the type and amount of drug involved and whether the offender possesses the drug for his or her own use or is a seller, manufacturer, or distributor. Other factors also play a role. For example, first-time offenders may receive less harsh charges and sentences than repeat offenders.” (Masters, 2010)

“Throughout its history the United States has struggled with how best to tackle the problem of drug abuse and the crimes linked to it. During the 1700s a number of potions containing opium and promising cures for a variety of ailments were available as so-called patent medicines, and physicians routinely prescribed opium medications to their patients. In 1805 the discovery of morphine by the Swiss pharmacist Friedrich Sertürner (1783–1841) introduced another powerful drug to the medicines of the day. By the end of the nineteenth century cocaine, codeine, and dozens of similar drugs were in common use. However, doctors were increasingly concerned abo...

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Works Cited

BenoKraitis, N. V. (2010). SOC. Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Crime, T. N. (n.d.). Drug Related Crimes. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from The National Center For Victims of Crime: http://www.ncvc.org/nvc/main

Cynthia Kuhn, P. S. (2008). buzzed The Straight Facts About the Most Used and Abused Drugs from Alcohol to Ecstasy. New York . London: W. W. Norton.

Fears, D. (2009, April 15). A Racial Shift in Drug-Crime Prisoners. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from Washington Post: Washingtonpost.com

Joranson DE, G. A. (2005). Drug Crime Is a Source of Abused Pain Medications in the United States. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 30(4):299-301.

“Drug Crimes.” Crime, Prisons, and Jails. Kim Masters Evans. 2009 ed. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Information Plus Reference Series. Gales Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 29Mar. 2012.