For Black people, unjust and unequal treatment by the criminal justice system is all too common. We’re abused in many ways yet none more than under the oppression of one favored criminal charge - nonviolent drug offenses.
But wait, what about cannabis legalization and law reforms? Wasn’t that supposed to do a world of good?
Black people STILL make up the majority of arrests!
For example, Black people are nearly 100% of Washington D.C.’s arrests for cannabis despite being only 45% of the population. But it’s not just about D.C. There’s something EVERY state has in common.
Research reveals it doesn’t matter whether weed is legalized, decriminalized, or illegal, Black people are ALWAYS arrested for it more than white people! So in places like Colorado that have passed progressive legalization, racist law enforcement remains.
This tells us something crucial.
Law enforcement is not just about the law, it’s about race. And reform is not removing racism when it comes to cannabis. When we think about challenging racism within the system that already exists, we have to always keep in mind the system is always racist!
Black people have the right to enjoy cannabis and be treated the same as anyone else would in states where it’s legalized. We should hope that legalization becomes the law of the land, but we also have to challenge a racist system that will punish us either way!