Cocaine and crack differ only in the sense that crack is a mixture of cocaine and other materials, usually not controlled substances, that serve as a filler.

Forms of Cocaine

This difference can be determined through forensic science and its form, where powder or irregularly shaped chunks of whitish solid may be an indication of the difference. These fillers can often produce serious negative effects on the body in addition to the impact of the cocaine itself. Since crack requires a relatively smaller amount of cocaine, it is cheaper to produce and therefore much more accessible to a greater number of people than pure cocaine. The basic difference is that crack is a form of cocaine that has been chemically changed so it can be smoked, rather than snorted.

Cocaine Consumption

Cocaine can be injected, smoked, sniffed, or snorted. As noted above, crack is a form of cocaine that can be smoked due to changes in its chemical composition.

Legal Implications of Crack and Cocaine

Offenses involving either of these substances are punished equally under Alabama law, where there is no legal difference. In other words, a person who is arrested with x amount of cocaine faces the same penalties as a person arrested for the same amount of crack. (This is just one point on which Alabama and federal drug laws differ.)

This information was provided by the Mobile County [AL] District Attorney's Office and is intended to give USA students a legal perspective on what being involved with illegal drugs can mean for their futures. Students are encouraged to be aware of this information when they make decisions about who to hang out with, where to go, and what to do. It should be noted that the legal information provided only encompasses the law of the State of Alabama.

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