I was recently on a jury whose job was to determine if the cocaine found in possession of the defendant was intended to be sold. The gist of the defense’s argument was that he was a heavy user and it was for personal use.
I don’t remember the exact amount, but the bag looked to hold about 3/4 of a cup, if measured like flour. I did some calculations in my notes that it was a month’s supply if the guy took four doses a day.
I might have bought into it, except three 1/4 gram bags were also found in his pockets.
I’ve seen some wildly varying answers in this thread so I’ll try to give the amounts a little bit of perspective.
When I was connected to that market, which was about 5 years ago in suburban NC, a gram cost $100, and an eightball, or 1/8th oz. (3.5 grams), about $300. These were by far the most common amounts that suburban prep kids would purchase in - a gram for a personal stash, and an eightball if you were planning a big party and had a few people pitching in.
If you just want to get high once or twice, it only takes a fraction of a gram. Most people wouldn’t be carrying much more than a gram on them at any given time, but up to 3.5 grams is plausible. Any more than that and you’re probably trying to sell it. As far as crack, I can’t help you there. Cocaine is a rich white kid drug (where I lived) and crack is the “hood” drug. Interestingly even though it’s made from the same substance, the penalties for crack possession are far more severe across the board.
I would certainly suspect it. Casual, recreational, “there’s a party this weekend” users wouldn’t have more than a gram or two, would they?
I, however, had an insane habit. And thanks for catching the 1/4 ounce typo. :smack: Damned good thing I don’t get high anymore… 
I think it depends on if having a gram or two for themselves and a gram or two for their friend counts as personal use or not. I’d say it does.
I thought you were just high when you wrote it. 
But, seriously, the point I was trying to make was that it seems that we distinguish between a college kid who’s getting high on the weekend, and a drug addict who needs help (read: punishment). So, if they’ve got less than a 'ball, they’re likely the former; if they’ve got more than a ball, they’re likely the latter.
Coke pretty much always costs the same, $25 per quarter gram. Like any other product in a capitalist society you will often get volume discounts, even on a personal use scale, i.e. a dealer will sell you a gram for $75 etc.
The price never really goes up or down, the dealers just cut it more (or less), i.e. they vary the filler and make it less or more pure. But the standard unit of (personal, small-time) purchasable coke is the $25 quarter gram.
If I were on a jury I could accept someone carrying around about up to an eighth ounce (an eightball) on their person as still being for personal use. So long as it was all loose powder in one bag! Walking around with 20 or 30 25 dollar bundles in a bag? Not so much.