“Drug crimes include the possession, sale, or manufacture of illicit drugs. Many drug crimes are crimes punishable by at least one year in prison. Some drug crimes, especially possession of small amounts of marijuana, are misdemeanors. People convicted of minor drug crimes may receive a fine and/or a sentence of less than one year in a local prison. Some jurisdictions consider possession of very small amounts of marijuana (e.g., less than 1 ounce [28 g]) to be a misdemeanor, rather than a misdemeanor. Infractions are minor crimes, such as traffic violations, that are punishable only by fines and not imprisonment. Drug laws are complex and may differ from one jurisdiction to another. In general, the seriousness of a crime and the severity of its punishment depend on the type and quantity of drugs involved and whether the offender possesses the drugs for personal use or is a seller, manufacturer, or distributor. Other factors also play a role. For example, first-time offenders may receive less harsh charges and sentences than repeat offenders.” (Masters, 2010)“Throughout its history the United States has struggled to find the best way to address the problem of drug abuse and related crimes. During the 1700s a number of opium-containing potions and promising cures for a variety of ailments were available as so-called patent medicines, and doctors routinely prescribed opium-based drugs to their patients. In 1805 the discovery of morphine by the Swiss pharmacist Friedrich Sertürner (1783–1841) introduced another powerful drug to the medicines of the time. By the end of the nineteenth century cocaine, codeine, and dozens of similar drugs were in common use. However, doctors were increasingly concerned about... half of the paper ......professional careers. Works CitedBenoKraitis, NV (2010). SOC. Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.Crime, TN (n.d.). Drug-related crimes. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from National Center for Victims of Crime: http://www.ncvc.org/nvc/mainCynthia Kuhn, P. S. (2008). around The truth about the most used and abused drugs, from alcohol to ecstasy. New York. London: W.W. Norton.Fears, D. (2009, April 15). A racial shift in drug-related prisoners. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from Washington Post: Washingtonpost.comJoranson DE, GA (2005). Drug-related crime is a source of pain medication abuse in the United States. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 30(4):299-301. "Drug crimes". Crime, jails and prisons. Kim Masters Evans. 2009 ed. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Information Plus reference series. Gales opposing views in context. Network. 29 March. 2012.