Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986
.svg) | |
| Other short titles |
|
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to strengthen Federal efforts to encourage foreign cooperation in eradicating illicit drug crops and in halting international drug traffic, to improve enforcement of Federal drug laws and enhance interdiction of illicit drug shipments, to provide strong Federal leadership in establishing effective drug abuse prevention and education programs, to expand Federal support for drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation efforts, and for other purposes. |
| Enacted by | the 99th United States Congress |
| Effective | October 27, 1986 |
| Citations | |
| Public law | 99-570 |
| Statutes at Large | 100 Stat. 3207 |
| Codification | |
| Titles amended | 21 U.S.C.: Food and Drugs |
| U.S.C. sections amended |
|
| Legislative history | |
| |
The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 was a law of the War on Drugs passed by the U.S. Congress. Among other things, they changed the system of federal supervised release from a rehabilitative system into a punitive system. The 1986 Act also prohibited controlled substance analogs. The bill enacted new mandatory minimum sentences for drugs, including marijuana.[1][2]
This act mandated a minimum sentence of 5 years without parole for possession of 5 grams of crack cocaine while it mandated the same for possession of 500 grams of powder cocaine. This 100:1 disparity was reduced to 18:1, when crack was increased to 28 grams (1 ounce) by the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010.
See also
References
- ^ Snitch: Drug Laws and Snitching - a Primer. Frontline (U.S. TV series). Public Broadcasting Service. The article also has a chart of mandatory minimum sentences for first time drug offenders.
- ^ Thirty Years of America's Drug War. Frontline (U.S. TV series).
External links
- Chart of current U.S. federal mandatory minimum drug sentences. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Some of the drugs and penalties have changed since the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986.