Question

In 1951 and 1956, Congress felt penalties for illicit drug use were too lenient, so they:

A) Decriminalized all drug use.
B) Increased penalties for drug use.
C) Established drug rehabilitation programs.
D) Implemented harm reduction strategies.

Answer 1

In 1951 and 1956, Congress increased penalties for drug use, contributing to a punitive legal trend that peaked during the 1980s with severe sentences for crack cocaine possession among other measures, disproportionately affecting minority communities.

Step-by-step explanation:

In 1951 and 1956, Congress did not decriminalize drug use, establish drug rehabilitation programs, or implement harm reduction strategies. Instead, they increased penalties for drug use. This was part of a broader trend that intensified during the 1980s, a period marked by the crackdown on crack cocaine usage, which was prevalent among lower income, Black, and Hispanic communities. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 epitomized this approach by introducing minimum sentencing guidelines that disproportionately affected these communities. For instance, possession of a relatively small amount of crack cocaine led to significant federal prison sentences. State and federal policies contributed to mass incarceration and the curtailing of judges' discretion in drug case sentencing, with long-lasting impacts on minority and impoverished populations.