"In July 1986, in the midst of a surge of articles regarding the crack 'epidemic'37 both the United States Senate and the House of Representatives held hearings on the perceived crisis.38 At these hearings, it was asserted that crack: (1) was more addictive than powder cocaine,39 (2) produced physiological effects that were different from and worse than those caused by powder cocaine,40 (3) attracted users who could not afford powder cocaine, especially young people,41 and (4) led to more crime than powder cocaine did.42"

Source

Graham, Kyle, "Sorry seems to be the hardest word: The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, Crack, and Methamphetamine," University of Richmond Law Review (Richmond, VA: Richmond School of Law, March 2011) Vol. 45, Issue 3, pp. 771-773.