Washington, D.C. – Today, the
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the National Action Network issued a joint call to leaders
of the New York State General Assembly in support of the state’s
fight to ensure that the legalization of marijuana in New York State is
tied to an economic opportunity program with specific requirements to
address racial inequities.
Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights Under Law, noted: “The
Controlled Substances Act of the 1970’s used racism and bias to
criminalize marijuana. Generations of African Americans have been on the
receiving end of a decades-long public relations campaign aimed at
pinning drug use on this particular group, jailing millions
and wreaking havoc on generations of African-American families. The
current decriminalization opens this old wound, and fails to provide
meaningful economic opportunities for communities ravaged by the 'War on
Drugs.' The leaders of the New York State Assembly
have shown great leadership in their effort to course-correct. The
legalization and resulting commercialization of marijuana in New York
must not leave African American communities behind. The Assembly must prioritize
the grants
of licenses for people from communities that have been ravaged by the
war on drugs, invest revenue from legalized cannabis into communities of
color, and eliminate the barriers to reentry faced by those with
criminal records tied to prior marijuana offenses.”
Reverend Al Sharpton, Founder and President of the National Action Network, said: “An
equitable legal marijuana industry in New York State and across America
must include pathways for communities who have traditionally been
afflicted by marijuana related crimes, namely low-income families,
formerly incarcerated individuals, and communities
of color. This is a unique opportunity for the state of New York to be
an leader in the marijuana industry in regards to economic and
restorative justice for all. I applaud the efforts of Black lawmakers in
New York who have stepped up to represent the interests
of so many communities that otherwise stand to be left out of the
conversation and face continued inequality in the burgeoning marijuana
industry.”
Read the letter
here.
Source: Mercury
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