Jay-Z: why the war on drugs is a glaring failure

Celebrities rarely comment on controversial topics like drug regulation policies, whether in the United States or Europe. However, Jay-Z has lent his voice to share his opinion on this subject with the masses. He created a short film, with the help of artist Molly Crabapple, to highlight the history of the war on drugs in the United States, but which will undoubtedly bring to mind similar situations in all countries around the world. Jay-Z clearly shows that the war on drugs is a resounding failure and leaves little room for discussion.

Start a movement

Jay-Z was contacted by the same person who co-signed his book, «Decoded,» Dream Hampton. The filmmaker approached the Drug Policy Alliance, the largest association for drug law reform in the USA, with the idea of making a short film that would open people's eyes to the radically unfair drug regulation system, particularly the racism surrounding cannabis prohibition.

While Caucasians and African Americans do not consume more drugs than each other, Black people are still arrested more often than White people in the United States. In France, racial statistics are prohibited, but the same observation could be made with the population of North African or African origin, as evidenced by the the only study available in France on racial profiling.

Jay-Z and racial injustice

The main argument regarding the injustice of drug laws in the United States is that African Americans account for the largest number of victims of this war on drugs. While they make up only 13% of the U.S. population, they account for 31% of arrests for drug law violations. This is a striking ratio that exceeds any incarceration rate based on ethnicity.

Jay-Z shares his perspective, drawing on numerous facts and statistics. The filmmakers hope to convey the importance of votes that arrive in 5 states in November to legalize cannabis, especially in California. If the laws pass, many people with minor offenses will see their criminal records cleared or their prison sentences commuted, partly righting a wrong that has persisted for many years across the Atlantic.

Watch the Jay-Z video below (French subtitles available)