1. This first graph tells us that white and black people use drugs at very similar rates.
2. But wow, black people get arrested for drugs A LOT more.
3. Then there’s this: Despite the fact that crack and cocaine are chemically identical, the prison sentencing for crack is much harsher. And perhaps not-so-coincidentally, crack use is higher among African-Americans, while white people tend to use more cocaine. If that’s not messed up, I don’t know what is.
Needless to say, three graphs don’t tell the entire story. But they do suggest that drug policy in our country is way out of whack (to put it mildly).
