As part of a research project I need to know how much cocaine a recreational user would plausibly have in their possession. Bit of a long story as to why, involves comparisons of sentencing laws across jurisdictions. Does anyone have any related experience or cites? What little I’ve been able to find online varies widely.
Just to give some guidance: the question is whether a user who wasn’t a total coke head would have 1g, 5g, 10g, or 30g/+ in their possession. Also whether the weight would differ if the person were doing crack.
I never thought that not doing drugs would deprive me of relevant academic information
I served on a federal court jury in a case involving cocaine dealing, this was a couple of years ago here in California. The DEA stated that the amounts that they’d consider for “personal use” were measured in milligrams. Not grams, thousandths of a gram.
Regardless of whether we felt that was a pretty miniscule amount or not the defendant was involved with multiple kilos of the stuff (we got to pass around a sealed bag with about 3.5kg of coke in it) so the question of personal use was pretty easy to answer.
The DEA never stated how many milligrams but I note that commonly sold amounts to the individual (judging by wikipedia) seem to be fractions of a gram - a few tenths, maybe a full gram.
Crack or classic? Powder, about 1/4 gram to a gram or two, for a casual user.
A playboy partyboy may have an ounce, stocking up for a big weekend.
Crack I’m less sure of, but a few rocks of .1 g to a gram.
The amounts go up as you go up the supply chain.
Seriously. Like Khampelf implied, you’re not going to get much effect by using less than 250mg; it’s just going to make you want more. Kind of like eating a snack size candy bar when you’re starving.
Never used coke, but have used plenty of recreational drugs, and have known coke users. To me, an eight-ball (3.5 grams) could reasonably be considered personal use. I’d not carry more than that at once. For crack, maybe a half-dozen rocks. But I think (wild speculation) that more crack users buy by the single-use amount, which is less than that. If cops find any quantity of crack worth more than 25 bucks, especially if packaged separately, you are fucked.
While we’re discussing it, the amount bought less than an eight ball in the US Customary system is commonly known as a teener, and is half an eight ball (1.75 grams).
It really depends on your definition of personal use. I would have shared a teener with two or three friends when I was in college, but would never do that much in a night by myself. However, I would still consider an eight ball personal use, for the same reason a handle of booze is personal use. You’re not going to drink it all in one night, but it’s not unreasonable to buy it for yourself in that quantity.
Disclaimer : I am in no way condoning drug use and think cocaine, as well as a variety of other hard drugs is a terrible addiction that will only lead you in one direction. I am only relating these personal experiences to give the OP an idea of what some Joe Blow (no pun intended) recreational user may purchase.
From a couple of personal experiences in my stupid years, I’d say .5 gram to 3.5 grams could possibly be argued to be a personal recreational stash. I was not a cokehead (did the stuff about 10 times over a couple of years) and .5 gram would be enough to keep me tweaked for an allnighter. I could see an eightball being bought for a long weekend if the purchaser was cutting off a few lines for buddies that came over or if his girfriend wanted to try it. Around 5 grams, you’re probably looking at someone who’s putting part of it up their nose and selling the rest to make their money back. As the amount increases form there, you’re looking at somebody who’s probably either a total cokehead, dealing, or a combination of the two.
When I was quite a bit younger an 8ball (powder) would last all weekend and often the amount purchased would depend on the price. I used to carry or have access to an 8ball just about all the time. I always felt that having more than that was pushing my personal risk limit.
The most I ever purchased was a half oz since my buddy wanted an 8ball to go with mine on a road trip and the price became a buy 3 get 1 free. It made me very nervous to be on road with this on me and I stashed my “extra” 2 and gave my buddy his as soon as possible.
Depending on the person, 1/4 gram to a gram. If you’re talking 8-balls, the person is probably more than just a casual user. By casual, I’m thinking no more than maybe monthly use. All the 8-ball people I knew were using almost daily.
Another angle you may want to consider is that “personal use” is something of a misnomer and an artificial construction of drug laws.
Consider an analogy. How much alcohol is considered enough for personal use? A bottle of wine? Two or maybe even three on a longer night? Ok, fine. What about someone with a wine rack full of bottles? Does that imply someone who likes drinking on weekends intends to distribute? Forget for a moment about varieties and differing vineyards, it is not uncommon for people to buy case lots of wine they like.
Buying drugs can be a sketchy process to begin with — there are obvious dangers of the crime and in many cases associating with unsavory people. There are price structures that vary significantly when buying small to large quantities. A person who has the opportunity to purchase a larger quantity may still have “personal use” in mind, holding the honest belief that they are buying a week’s or month’s supply. Whether for price or convenience, they are now in possession of a quantity that triggers “with intent to sell” ramifications.
This has the unfortunate outcome of a widespread “buy small” mentality, increasing overall risk and creating an artificial increase in the number of smaller dealers (and the associated crime networks to support them).
ETA: See Kickback_Joe’s second paragraph for something of an anecdote.
Would you agree, then, that having more than an 1/8 is indicative of “something going on”?
I haven’t, either, but the going rate in my area was about half that. The ratios are similar, though, because everybody wants to double their money. Also, 1/8 ounce is 3.5 grams, but I’m sure that was a typo.
