Now the commission is doing what it can on its own authority to recommend shorter sentences for most federal crack-cocaine offenses.

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Detectives believe Byfield, who had served a nine-year sentence for dealing in crack cocaine, was "executed" over a drug debt, while Toni-Ann was murdered to stop her identifying the gunman.

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Or the Crack Intelligence Co-Coordinating Unit, set up with the blessing of the home secretary in 1989 but also dissolved a few years later - unwisely in the view of many who had been tracking the damage inflicted by the newly-emerging drug, crack cocaine?

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"He's giving Marion Barry a run for his money, " Wiseman said, referring to the 1990 arrest of then-Washington Mayor Marion Barry, who was videotaped smoking crack cocaine in a hotel room during an FBI sting operation.

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This syllogism gave America Prohibition, mandatory-minimum sentences, the sentencing disparity between convictions for crack and powder cocaine, and that great guarantee of everyone's security, shoe removal at airports.

ECONOMIST: Lexington

So yesterday, we took an important step forward when Congress passed a fair sentencing bill that I look forward to signing into law -- (applause) -- a bipartisan bill to help right a longstanding wrong by narrowing sentencing disparities between those convicted of crack cocaine and powder cocaine.

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