Blog Post #1
By: Melissia Gould
In full transparency, I’ve always wanted to try marijuana…I just can’t get past the smell. More importantly, by nature I am a rule follower, so, building up the nerve to hit that blunt was easily squashed by fear of the myriad repercussions associated with such a pastime.
The criminalization of marijuana has always been a fascinating debate. Marijuana, cannabis, weed, pot, kush, whichever name you choose to call it; is a naturally occurring plant. Indigenous to the central and southern parts of Asia, having been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. It is from the earth! Science and historical research have proven its medicinal properties- countless individuals have benefited from its therapeutic application. Since weed is not a manufactured drug, I believe it was put here for an intended purpose. Cannabis was designed by the creator of all things living. Although the ways through which our ancestors used the herb for medicine and health have been in some ways tainted, the intended purpose of the thing remains.
The recreational use of marijuana was a forbidden sense off pleasure for many Americans who indulged in the social practice for fun or relaxation. In November of 2023, 24 states and 3 U.S. territories legalized recreational marijuana use. Smokers now had the freedom to puff, puff, pass until their hearts content! Purchasing their goods was no longer a covert mission and the fear of law enforcement interfering with their “woosah” moment was for many erased. 7 U.S. states have decriminalized recreational marijuana use and commercial distribution of marijuana is legal in all states where possession is legal, apart from Virginia and D.C. In most states, one can even grow their own marijuana, just like they would any other plant found in nature.
Why legalize marijuana now? Lawmakers suggest the legalization was for consumer safety, allowing for regulation and testing of cannabis products. Legalization promotes quality control, potency of products and removes the risk of an unregulated open market on the streets. This is how the decision was sold to the public. Personally, I believe, like most things in America, capitalism was at the heart of this choice.
According to the United States Sentencing Commission, in 2022, 30% of all drug related arrests were for cannabis and the arrest rate for Black adults was four times higher than that of White adults. Black men in particular have been disproportionately arrested and imprisoned for marijuana possession.
On October 7, 2022, President Biden became the first president to issue mass pardons to individuals with low-level, federal marijuana possession convictions. In a prepared statement, the President said “sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit. Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities.” With Biden’s consent, presidential pardons were given to nearly 7,000 Americans who had criminal records for marijuana possession. In my home state of Maryland, Governor Wes Moore signed a historic order pardoning 175, 000 Marylanders with cannabis related convictions! I would guess that the large majority of those pardoned looked like me and other folks from my community. For many of those people, I would imagine this was life changing and opened doors for them that were once closed.
The legalization of marijuana has generated over $30 billion in tax revenue from recreational and medical sales combined. Less than 2% of this billion-dollar cannabis industry is owned by Black people… again, the disparity continues. The silver lining here is that your friendly neighborhood weed man has been spared from judgment although he’s likely been put out of business. There is, however, opportunity for legal entrepreneurship. It is my hope that more Black and Brown people are educated and empowered on the path to ownership in the cannabis space. Clearly, there’s enough cash to go around and another opportunity for us to take the sting out of tragedy to create magic.
Sources:
United States Sentencing Commission (www.ussc.gov)
NORML and The NORML Foundation (https://norml.org/marijuana/fact-sheets/marijuana-pardons-and-expungements-by-the-numbers/)
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