Cocaine freed from impurites by treatment (usually with ether) by heating it to produce
vapors for inhalation. When you create freebbase you neutralize the
HCI, leaving you with pure cocaine. This is commonly confused with crack, which is typically 2 parts cocaine, 1 part baking soda and a little water heated gently to form crystals, which the user then smokes/inhales. Both are derived from cocaine and the effects are similar but
freebase and crack are not created equal.
While watching a friend create
freebase cocaine:
"Man, I thought
freebasing and smoking crack was the same thing. Naw, dude. The freebase is the pure stuff. Crack
ain't worth shit."