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African-Americans in California are torn over efforts to legalize marijuana. Under the ballot measure, named Proposition 19, adults aged 21 and over will be allowed to possess an ounce of weed. The measure would also allow California to tax and regulate marijuana.
Supporters, like Alice A. Huffman, the President of the California NAACP, feel that the law will stop black men from being disproportionally arrested for marijuana related offenses. Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the former United States Surgeon General, agrees that it will free police up to focus on more crime prevention efforts.
However, pastors like Ron Allen, a former crack addict who used marijuana regularly, told the New York Times that the measure could devastate the black community.
And, unlike other minority groups who are similarly divided, blacks vote in numbers that could block the ballot measure or propel it to victory.
The New York Times writes:
Blacks make up less than 10 percent of the population in California, but unlike two larger minority groups in the state where opinions on the measure are also split - Asians and Latinos - their "participation in elections is on par with their populations," according to the California Voter Foundation, a nonprofit group here. In the case of Proposition 19 - which is trailing narrowly in a recent Field Poll - appeals to that potential swing bloc have already begun, and the measure's backers have been seeking out the support of prominent black leaders.
A new study from the Drug Policy Alliance found that blacks were arrested at rates two to three times higher than whites in California's 25 largest counties. This is especially troubling since whites likely use marijuana at a higher rate than blacks.
"The findings in this report are a chilling reminder of the day-to-day realities of marijuana prohibition and the large-scale racist enforcement at its core," said Stephen Gutwillig, California director of the Drug Policy Alliance. "Racial justice demands ending this policy disaster and replacing it with a sensible regulatory system that redirects law enforcement to matters of genuine public safety. Proposition 19 is California's exit strategy from its failed war on marijuana."
Opponents say that legalizing marijuana is not the solution to the problem facing African American men.
"How stupid to think that by legalizing a vice it's going to help the situation," said Darryl B. Heath, pastor of St. John Baptist Missionary Baptist Church in Sacramento. "This is not a game. A whole generation is at stake."
Both sides have good points on this issue. It's unfair that black men are unfairly targeted for marijuana arrests. The war on drugs has been a complete failure.
However, the real problem with the disparity in the black arrest rate has to do with the institutional racism in our country. If marijuana is taken out of the mix, maybe loitering or speeding will become other reasons to stop black men. The problem is the belief that many black men are criminals.
And police can choose their law enforcement priorities.. They can focus their efforts on community policing and place petty drug arrests to the side.
On the other hand, drugs are already destroying the black community. Maybe legalizing marijuana will remove some of the thrill young people get from the illicit use of drugs. It could also backfire and drug use could become more widespread than ever.
Kids should grow up knowing that they don't need drugs to be cool and that getting high is not the answer to your problems.
Maybe the proposition should have a sunset provision. During the period the law is in effect, we should carefully analyze all the data. Once the law expires, we should examine the results and decide how to proceed.
What do you think?
Comments: (13)
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By: mountain man on 7/21/2010 5:35PM
Fire one up !!
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By: wha-up on 7/21/2010 6:02PM
and you think we have lazy people on wellfare now, just wait
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By: rbk84 on 7/21/2010 8:24PM
Please stop these knuckleheads in the Black Church from standing in the way of progress. This dumb logic about gateway drup and so on contributed to pot is ridiculous. How many presidents and politicians have admitted their pot smoking days. And lets get real how many still use pot. If the black church want to do something positive than take a stand against alchol with kills more people and has proven to be more addictive. Could it be that these drug programs that a lot of black churches get money from the feds for, would be in jeapody if pot is legal. Sounds like a typical black minister not wanting the gravy train to stop. Enough locking people of color up for a weed that has no impact on the community until law enforcement becomes involved. Underage drinking is an epedemic in the black community, focuss on that after giving the wine in your church.
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By: The Cynic on 7/21/2010 10:40PM
Oh God these morons!!!! Apart from MJ being less harmful then alcohol or the fact that it will give a crippling blow to people who profit from selling it illegally black people get it the worst when it comes to crime. Study after study shows that we make up 13% of the nations illegal drug users(in proportion to our population), yet we make up the majority of non-violent drug offenders! Why would they not want this legally?
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By: The Cynic on 7/21/2010 11:03PM
ALL BLACK PPL SHOULD WATCH THIS DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE DRUG WAR!
Short version for those who don't have enough time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-XdIkarQUk&videos=T6T0qJseGig
American Drug War the last White hope 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FownRZmnd1I&feature=related
African Americans use fewest Drugs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiQWuTMTCEg&feature=PlayList&p=AAAC4A151A1F57F2&playnext=1&index=76
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By: You Know Who on 7/21/2010 10:53PM
Drugs are great,the problems are the users live too long.San Francisco, Oakland , Sacramento , Northern Calif. freaks are a pain in the rectum.Diseases are natures way of controlling populations of animal life.Science controls the world as we know it, is preparing for a great die-off.Retired gangster LA county,moved on.Terorrist will get lucky one day.Hand writting on the wall fools!!
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By: The Cynic on 7/21/2010 11:04PM
This is an article about Portugal drug decriminalization.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html
fyi No, I am not a druggie. I don't use ANY drugs. I don't even drink alcohol. I research a lot of political issues and their are a LOT benefits from Marijuana decriminalization. This church is obviously ignorant of the facts behind the history our nations Drug War, the Mexican Drug War, the criminal justice system, prison industrial complex, and a whole heap of topics that play into this issue. This legislation is a civil rights issue and any black person who objects to this is either ignorant or on drugs their selves. Research both sides of the issue like this before making blind prejudicial judgments.
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By: mswll4 on 7/22/2010 1:15AM
As i said before, the goverment should not legalled pot. When COLOREDS get caught for pot possession, they are arrested for something else prior to pot possession. Plus people who use pot, also drink ALCOHOL. Add up those 2 = PAIN. But you go ahead and let some SLOW COLOREDS leaders legalled pot and see what iam talking about.
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By: abelbreath on 7/22/2010 1:40AM
With all the regulations they're likely to put on it, the number of marijuana patients will severely decrease. This, plus the high level of regulation and retraining and re-everything that will happen to keep up to code will make marijuana preeeeeetty unprofitable, as far as taxation goes.
http://healthproductadvice.com/acai-max-cleanse
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By: rbk84 on 7/22/2010 1:27PM
How stupid can you be. If something is making billions illegally, what makes you think it won't generate billions legally. We have already tried this with alcohol, which was illegal and now legal and much more dangerous than pot. Alcohol generate taxes, look for yourself in your own community how much alcohol and bars generate revenue for your local and state govenment. Now take away those taxes see how far your community plunges. This pot is bad for you nonsense comming from people who indulge with drinking alcohol is hypocritical. Drunk drivers kill more people on our highways than pot. Alcohol has been at the route of most domestic disputes and fights in the community. How about prescrtion drugs. More people are OD ing on this every day, but you focuss on pot. This new phenon of cough syrup consumption is a telling thing. People want to get high in this country period. Escaping the pressure of this society has been a tradition in this country. For some your drug is religion. Yes religion. Something that takes you away from reality and gives a false sense comfort. If you are high on pot or high on jesus its a choice. There are many more issues that can be debated beside a weed, that are more detrimental to society. Wake up and smell the 21st century please.
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