Cocaine is considered a Schedule II substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act
Schedule II substances are very likely to be abused but less likely to be abused than a Schedule I drug, still causing physical and psychological issues
(Examples of each of the five Schedules under which drugs are placed include cough medicine for Schedule V and marijuana in Schedule I)
Controlled Substances Act also says that substances that are considered "controlled" are limited in distribution by government function
Unpermitted distribution of controlled substances results in 3 years in jail with a large fine to a life sentence based on the drug, quantity, and the history of the defendant
Manufacturing controlled substances is restricted by both federal and state laws
Charges for possesion require the defendant to have knowingly possesed the drug, not have a prescription for it, and have enough for selling or personal use
Possesion charges may also happen if the defendant has control over where the drugs were located
Drug trafficking involves transporting large amounts of a drug and often selling or trading it
Unlike trafficking, drug dealing is simply selling a smaller quantity of illegal drugs, usually done by one or a few people
Paraphernalia is a charge used to say that the defendant has the equipment needed to prepare, hide, or use the drug

Aside from crimes directly involving cocaine or other drugs, many people claim to have commited crimes to get drug money
Driving while under the influence of drugs is also a crime because you are not only using the drug but you are under its dangerous effects
In NC and SD, anyone younger than 21 cannot drive with any detectable amount of an illegal drug
In CA, CO, ID, KS, and WV, people who frequently use drugs are not allowed to drive altogether
Sometimes drug dealers will rape/kill their clients, or vice versa
Even workplace violence is sometimes caused by drugs

A commonly used defense for these laws is that an officer found the drugs illegally or the methods of detecting them are invalid/unreliable