Cocaine is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant.  It is a stimulant of the central nervous system and an appetite suppressant.  Cocaine is highly addictive in nature.  Cocaine is the second most popular illegal recreational drug in the U.S. The U.S. is also the world’s largest consumer of cocaine.  In the United States cocaine is a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act since it has high abuse potential but also carries a medicinal purpose.  In the U.S., the Federal Sentencing Guidelines contain the sentence to be imposed on persons convicted for use, possession, manufacture or sale of cocaine.  In the case of Kimbrough v. United States[i] the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed that federal district judges have discretion to impose sentences outside the range dictated by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines in cases involving conduct related to possession, distribution, and manufacture of crack cocaine.

The rules concerning cocaine vary in the different states of U.S.  The related law of each state is discussed under the following state links.

[i] 552 U.S. 85 (2007)