Question

1

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How did minimum sentencing laws for drugs disproportionately affect marginalized groups?
During the War on Drugs, the mandatory minimum sentencing law for five grams of crack cocaine was the same as for 500 grams of
powder cocaine, which disproportionately affected
because powder cocaine was typically consumed by
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Answer 1

The minimum sentencing laws disproportionately affected marginalized groups, particularly through the unequal treatment of crack versus powder cocaine.

Step-by-step explanation:

The minimum sentencing laws for drugs, particularly crack cocaine, disproportionately affected marginalized groups during the War on Drugs. The mandatory minimum sentence for possession of five grams of crack cocaine was the same as for 500 grams of powder cocaine. This sentencing disparity disproportionately affected marginalized groups because crack cocaine was more commonly used in impoverished urban communities, primarily by lower-income Black and Hispanic individuals. The unequal treatment of crack versus powder cocaine led to mass incarceration of Black and Hispanic people and perpetuated a cycle of poverty and reduced social mobility.