Recently, a video of Louisiana politician Gary Chambers Jr. went viral. Six million people watched him openly smoking marijuana! That’s a big deal – he’s a promising candidate for the U.S. Senate!
Will they end his career over one little puff?
The video was a strategic campaign ad; in it Chambers addresses racism within drug arrests. Studies show Black Americans are 3 to 10 times more likely to get arrested for marijuana possession, even though white Americans are more likely to sell it!
But this “War on Drugs” goes way back.
In 1971, President Nixon pushed harsh laws against drugs. But it wasn’t to “keep streets safe” – it was because he hated Black people! He was even caught on tape saying so.
Nixon’s own Domestic Policy Chief confirmed he designed his drug policy to target Black Americans – like Kevin Allen.
Many states have already decriminalized marijuana, though it’s still illegal at the federal level. Allen’s serving LIFE for selling $20 worth of pot!
This shows America's true colors – while Black people like Allen serve time, at least 81% of America’s billion-dollar legal cannabis industry is white-owned.
Chambers wants to decriminalize marijuana, clear incarceration records for possession, and invest in Black growers. Marijuana could be the future of medicine!
Chambers is taking a risk to advocate for our community, and for that we salute him.