I love words. Depending on how you use them you
can alienate people, draw them in, repulse them
or endear them to you.
I had this in mind when Filthy Dubois pointed out that
most of the non violent offenders in jail for selling crack are users
as well. They sell just enough to support their habit and make
a living. I began to reflect on the fact that NONE of the
articles on the crack cocaine sentencing disparity
actually mentioned the street value of 5 grams of crack.
So I set out to find out how much 5 grams of crack was worth,
I turned to my resident reformed d-boy.
MM: How much is 5 grams of crack?
Dig Dug: Well there are 28 grams in a ounce, which is about $500.
Did the math, divided 500/28 which came to 17.8×5= $89.5.
MM:Are you serious? So people are getting 5 years for roughly
$90 dollars worth of crack? And then that still depends on
whether there is a markup.
DD: Why you wanna know?
MM: I have been following the crack/coke sentencing disparity
cases.
DD: I heard about that. Regular massage of the male organ using this purchase cheap cialis herbal oil, which helps to increase erection size. How to Buy Effective ED Medications? purchase generic cialis or kamagra if the patient suffers from any sexual dysfunction. Just a few forms viagra active of psychiatric therapy, especially cognitive together with behaviour therapy, carry lately been extremely profitable inside dealing with both conditions. With the growing technology, there is nothing impossible. cheap viagra canadian They were talking about it on the radio.
MM: One of my homies pointed out that a lot of people in jail
for selling crack, are primarily users, so I am trying to figure out
the street value of 5 grams. Besides, folks are lobbying the
the sentencing commission to revise the crack sentencing rules.
DD: Is this a new law?
MM: Nah, its not a new law, its just that a couple of judges have decided two
cases that would impact the way other judges give out sentences.
Congress would have to change the law, which is highly unlikely.
DD: Will that affect me, I have probation left?
MM: I dunno. I can check. What is the street value or cost of 500
grams of cocaine.
DD: Man.{sighs} A whole lot of money.
That’s when I realized, no one has pointed out the dollar
amount. Grams and ounces don’t resonate with the average
everyday citizen, but dollars do.
The anti-drug war folks missed a critical opportunity to
change the way the public perceived the war on drugs.
They could have used the language to pull the folks
in by describing it in terms that were readily accessible.
I am this close, **hold up two fingers, to becoming a crack
and rehabilitation lobbyist, trill talk.
==========
==========
Did you know that it took only $90 worth of crack to get you 5 years?
What do you think of that?
Why doesn’t anyone talk about this issue in those terms?
==========
==========
As a former user, all I can say is that sucks… That really sucks! [shaking my head in disgust] I was so naive about “the system”. But now it’s clear: the evidence of an organized effort to destroy our race is stagering.
Otherwise, how are you?
Peace and Love,
Ali’s Zay (LoversA.blogspot.com)
I have seen folks killed before my own two eyes over less crack than that, and yes I am aware of the street value of grams..please don’t ask why.
Crack is a socio-economic divide. How much powder did Lindsay Lohan have when she drove into a tree?
How much Heroin did Nicole Richie have when she was arrested just days before shooting the first season of the Simple Life?
More than $90 worth I’ll tell you that much right now!
It’s not the drug that they are going after it’s the user which implies a criminal of color, and that alone is criminal!
totally agree with Aunt Jackie.
no one talks about it because that would mean that “the system” has been wrong. that the white, power system HAS been wrongly imprisoning black folks (and brown folks) for some bull shit (as if we didn’t already know this). but then again….maybe they’re aren’t wrong, they are doing what the hell they wanted to do in the first place: extinction.
The two above me said what I would only better.
It’s not the drug that they are going after it’s the user which implies a criminal of color, and that alone is criminal!
==================================
I can see why they made a dance in your honor. That’s a powerful statement right there.
—–I had this in mind when Filthy Dubois pointed out that
most of the non violent offenders in jail for selling crack are users
as well. They sell just enough to support their habit and make
a living———————-
Please reference me to a article about that…cuz not that its not true…but in my current mind state..its hard to hard to believe as true… I neva copped drums tho.so…
—-That’s when I thought to myself, whyhasn’t anyone pointed out the
dollar amount. Grams and ounces don’t resonate with the average
everyday citizen, but dollars do.
The anti-drug war folks missed a critical opportunity to
change the way the public perceived the war on drugs.——-
Great Point..
“Did you know that it took only $90 worth of crack to get you 5 years?”
No?no I didn?t
“What do you think of that?”
I think getting a half a decade for that offence in the context of the drug war and the blight most crack sellers face isn?t a fair sentence
“Why doesn’t anyone talk about this issue in those terms?”
Well ?talking about it in the humanistic mathematically real terms you crafted as others have mentioned doesn?t get the job done, can’t use logic ?cuz logic undemonizes the criminal.
I will say this tho?.. I understand circumstances, and rationales behind hustling and trust..people EXTREMELY close to me..still partake in such activities, but a part of me has always looked at drug dealers as businessmen blatantly selling a unsafe highly detrimental product. Simply laissez-faire capitalism at one of its worst. Yes heads of corporations practice vartions of such activities and are able to insulate themselves, but that doesn?t absolve my disdain for such abhorrent actives towards ones fellow human breadren .
If Proctor and Gamble sold soap that had the same effect on people that crack does I would want the people behind it to do at a year flat.
Its not as simple as saying 5 years for $90 cuz its about the product?not the fiscal amount?.but?.you and everybody else is right when you address the sentiment 5 years for a decent number of rocks is just plain wrong with all types of insidious reasoning behind it
LMAO @ the name DigDug
😐 @ the rest of the comments.
five grams is more than $90 worth of crack.
Police typically use the street value of a gram to determine the value of busts they make. The standard value for a gram is $100. Most rocks are 1/5 of a gram which why they sale for about $20.
So, five grams, at the street price is about $500 worth of crack.
Now that is really nothing.
Police call a mid-level dealer someone who can typically secure at least an ounce of cocaine on a moment’s notice. As your friend said, and ounce is 28 grams. So, that’s 28 times what will get you five grams, and in that still less not shit since a kilo containes 1000 grams. Remember, kilos are typically poweder cocaine, so half a kilo of cocaine gets you the same amount of time as five grams of crack…
That’s why it’s not fair.
28 times what will get you five years I meant to say
wow @ anon….i felt like i was back in 99 listening to “Affirmative Action” when Foxy was kickin her (faulty) math LOL
—wow @ anon….i felt like i was back in 99 listening to “Affirmative Action” when Foxy was kickin her (faulty) math LOL—
lol I hear you on that..
Foxy was on some very (way to) mature ish for a 16 yr old at the time
never realized the dollars… and sense is that cheap
Holy shit.
Yall loved this.
Thank you for the comments.
I had intended on pitchin’ this to XXL.
*******Rubs chin.
*******Thinks of rewriting it and submitting still.
wow @ anon….i felt like i was back in 99 listening to “Affirmative Action” when Foxy was kickin her (faulty) math LOL
=========
Oh M geee….I had to read that sh*t a few times to get it and im still scratching my head…its that conversion shit.
Please reference me to a article about that…cuz not that its not true…but in my current mind state..its hard to hard to believe as true… I neva copped drums tho.so…
=========
that n*gga filthy been in the streets…so I imagine he speaking from experience.
And it is true that most cats in jail for crills are in on some non-violent drug offense. So the inference can be made.
Anonymous TC said…
LMAO @ the name DigDug
=====
Yeah man, thats my fam.
Zay,
How am I?
Sh*t happy to see you in the comments.
Getting a handle on Bay Area life.
How is life treating you Mr. Author bear?
dang is all i can say…chk out my post about the King THANK WE FREE
“Did you know that it took only $90 worth of crack to get you 5 years?”
No, I didn’t.
“What do you think of that?”
As American as Apple Pie.
“Why doesn’t anyone talk about this issue in those terms?”
Because even lobbyist don’t care enough the issue to really present the information the way it should be presented. At the end of the day, white America sees crack as a “black” issue and until it also becomes the issue of the majority, white America will ignore it. At the end of the day, it IS a white and black issue; a have and have not-issue. Class-ism and racism at its finest.
At the end of the day, white America sees crack as a “black” issue and until it also becomes the issue of the majority, white America will ignore it.
=======
I agree and I disagree, but then I agree again.
I would ride for the assertion that it is more of a class issue, per the BLATANT disregard of the impact that METH is having on white communities.