Why Are Cocaine-Related Crimes So Serious?
The federal government regulates cocaine in any form under the Controlled Substances Act passed in 1970. This legislation categorizes illegal substances into 5 categories (schedules) of severity with corresponding punishments for drug offenses. Cocaine, crack cocaine, or coco leaves are in schedule 2.
Schedule 2 drugs are considered to be a serious danger to society.
Methamphetamines, opium, methadone and several others are also classified in schedule 2. The criteria for schedule 2 drugs are that they may have some accepted medical use in our country, but have a high potential for abuse, and abuse of the drug will lead to severe psychological and physical dependency or damage.