Racism Persists In States With Criminal Penalties For Cannabis Possession

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Summary

States that did not implement any policy change showed no meaningful change in arrests for White individuals and an increase for Black individuals, thereby increasing the arrest rate disparity over time. This is not something that we can tolerate in the 21st century, and these findings should incentivize lawmakers to embrace sensible cannabis policy reforms.” This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission. A study published in the journal JAMA Health Forum sheds light on one of the examples of racial disparity across the US. The research revealed that those states that have not removed criminal penalties for cannabis possession increased arrest rate disparities over the last two decades. They examined how arrest rates compare before and after states decriminalized or legalized cannabis and also across those that made no policy changes. Regardless of intent, it is clear that the continued criminalization of cannabis perpetuates and exacerbates unequal enforcement under the law and the associated harms that come with it.

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States that did not implement any policy change showed no meaningful change in arrests for White individuals and an increase for Black individuals, thereby increasing the arrest rate disparity over time.

By Nina Zdinjak

The truth is, racism exists. Some of us don’t want this to be true, some refuse to see it, some don’t care and then there are racists who seem to work to keep it alive. It’s hard to believe that in the 21st century, we, as a population, haven’t spiritually evolved an inch.

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