Final answer:
The drug known as the 'rich white man's drug' of the 1970s was powder cocaine, which became symbolic of wealth. During the 1980s' War on Drugs, there were stark sentencing disparities between powder cocaine and crack cocaine, leading to allegations of racial bias and ineffective drug enforcement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The drug known as the rich white man's drug introduced in the 1970s was powder cocaine. This drug became associated with the wealthier classes, contrasting sharply with the harsh penalties faced by users of crack cocaine, a substance that was introduced in the 1980s and was more commonly used in lower-income, Black, and Hispanic communities. During the 1980s, the War on Drugs led to significant disparities in sentencing for crack cocaine versus powder cocaine possession, which were emblematic of broader racial and socio-economic contrasts in drug enforcement practices. Despite the increased penalties and aggressive law enforcement tactics, the War on Drugs faced criticism for failing to address underlying issues of poverty and for being ineffective in preventing drug trafficking.