policies as the "stop and frisk" police practices in New York city and the "three strikes" felony laws began in California in 1994. In August 2010, President Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act into law that dramatically reduced the 100-to-1 sentencing disparity between powder and crack cocaine, which disproportionately affected minorities. Commonly used illegal drugs Commonly used illegal drugs include heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, LSD, ketamine and marijuana Heroin is an opiate that is highly addictive. If caught selling or possessing heroin, a perpetrator can be charged with a felony and face two to four years in prison and could be fined to a maximum of $20,000. Crystal meth is composed of methamphetamine hydrochloride. It is marketed as either a white powder or in a solid (rock) form. The possession of crystal meth can result in a punishment varying from a fine to a jail sentence. As with other drug crimes, sentencing length may increase depending on the amount of the drug found in the possession of the defendant. Cocaine possession is illegal across the U.S. The penalties for possession vary by state, or if charges are federal. Marijuana is the most popular illegal drug worldwide. The punishment for possession of it is less than for the possession of cocaine or heroin. In a fast-increasing number of U.S. states, the drug is being legalized. Approximately half of all adult Americans have tried marijuana. Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, is an empathogen. Ecstasy possession is illegal within the U.S. Punishments of ecstasy possession can be up to $50,000 in fines and 3–10 years in jail. LSD is a type of psychedelic drug that can lead to hallucinations. LSD possession is illegal in U.S. The punishment can be a fine up to $2 million and 5–40 years in prison. Foreign interventions Some scholars have claimed that the phrase "War on Drugs" is propaganda cloaking an extension of earlier military or paramilitary operations. Others have argued that large amounts of "drug war" foreign aid money, training, and equipment actually goes to fighting leftist insurgencies and is often provided to groups who themselves are involved in large-scale narco-trafficking, such as corrupt members of the Colombian military. War in Vietnam From 1963 to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, marijuana usage became common among U.S. soldiers in non-combat situations. Some servicemen also used heroin. Many of the servicemen ended the heroin use after