BLUF: The criminalization of cannabis users has caused significant damage over the last 50 years, leading to millions of arrests, disproportionately affecting communities of color, and resulting in numerous negative consequences such as lost opportunities and fractured families. To rectify this, we need to focus on legalizing cannabis, pardoning and expunging the records of those with nonviolent cannabis charges, and prioritizing opportunities and profits for communities that have been most impacted by the war on marijuana.
The article highlights the detrimental effects of the criminalization of cannabis users, emphasizing that over the past 50 years, more than 20 million arrests have occurred in the United States. It is alarming that 88% of the 8.2 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010 were for simple possession. The consequences have been severe, with individuals facing lifelong criminal records and even imprisonment, which has led to collateral damage such as denied student loans, forfeited housing, lost jobs, revoked voting rights, and broken families. These consequences have perpetuated cycles of poverty, particularly affecting communities of color. Despite similar rates of cannabis use between black and white individuals, black people are arrested almost four times more frequently.
The article acknowledges the changing public opinion regarding cannabis and the growing support for legalization, highlighting that currently, 94% of Americans believe in the right to access medical cannabis legally. Medical usage of cannabis is now legal in 38 states and fully legal for adult usage in 23 states. However, the article cautions that arrests for simple cannabis possession have not disappeared, with over half a million Americans arrested for cannabis-related charges in 2019, and approximately 350,000 arrests in 2020.
To put an end to these arrests, the article stresses the importance of full federal legalization of cannabis and the removal of cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act. By decriminalizing cannabis use, communities can be shielded from future damage caused by the misguided war on drugs. However, it is not enough to focus solely on future changes; justice demands rectifying the past injustices caused by cannabis criminalization. Millions of Americans, mainly from communities of color, continue to suffer from the lasting effects of criminal records, fractured families, and lost opportunities.
To address this, the article proposes several solutions. First, individuals with nonviolent cannabis charges should have their prison sentences ended, as their incarceration was unjust in the first place. President Joe Biden has announced plans to pardon all United States citizens with a criminal record for the federal offense of possession of marijuana, and advocacy groups like the Last Prisoner Project are working towards decarceration and ensuring no prisoners with cannabis convictions are left behind.
Furthermore, those with criminal records need not only pardons but also record expungements. Expunging records would seal them and prevent any future consequences associated with the criminal justice system. This process should be automatic and not involve excessive bureaucracy or expense for individuals seeking expungements. Organizations like the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) have been advocating for these legal remedies, with states that have automated the review and expungement process witnessing significant progress.
Lastly, as cannabis legalization progresses, efforts should be made to prioritize business opportunities and profits for communities that have been disproportionately harmed by the war on marijuana, particularly lower-income communities of color. Unfortunately, the article notes that those with power and privilege often dominate the cannabis industry and are reluctant to redistribute opportunities. Organizations like the Parabola Center for Law and Policy are working towards addressing this issue.
In summary, the criminalization of cannabis users has resulted in significant damage over the past 50 years, disproportionately affecting communities of color. To rectify this, it is crucial to focus on legalizing cannabis, pardoning and expunging records for nonviolent cannabis charges, and ensuring that business opportunities and profits are directed towards communities that have been most impacted by the war on marijuana.