Does the legalization of cannabis correct the problems of racism?

Across the United States, the various forms of cannabis legalization highlight the racist problem affecting the country. Blacks and Latinos are struggling to open dispensaries and find jobs in the cannabis industry.

The racial inequality of weed

Unique Henderson masters the art of cannabis. He knows how how to grow it, how and when to harvest it, which varieties and their effects on the customer. When he learns that Colorado is going to legalize weed, he buys himself a course to take part in what Americans are calling «The Green Rush». While his training companion easily found a job, the doors closed on him. But why?

During his youth, he was twice caught in possession of cannabis during police checks. Nothing serious, just enough to make a couple of joints in his pocket. What stuck with him was that his locker was opened and the two white guys smoking with him were released that night. After three years of legalization, he's still convinced: «I see people coming from elsewhere to open their clubs and live comfortably. I can't do it because of my past with cannabis, it drives me crazy.

In comparison, Jason Ray was caught with nearly 30 grams and released after a night's police custody. He now owns a production plant and considers himself fortunate not to have had his record expunged. «If I'd been convicted, I'd never have been able to work there. But selling on the illegal market allowed me to get to know the product. You can't go into the industry and make money like that without knowing the constraints of the plant».

While studies show that dealing weed concerns whites as much as blacks, blacks are condemned 4 times more often than whites for the same harms. According to Buzzfeed, only 1% of the 3,200 cannabis dispensaries are operated by blacks in Colorado. The real divide between whites and blacks can also be seen in the comments of American articles on the subject.

The Californian example

Bill 64 legalizing the use of recreational cannabis in California offers a new angle on the subject. All California residents involved in cannabis cases should be cleared by January 1, 2017. Prison sentences will be cancelled, and «cannabis trafficking, weed possession and cannabis production» should be removed from criminal records. In addition, Law 64 should enable local players to enter the cannabis industry. Foreign companies or those from other US states will not be able to set up in California until 2023.

French recommendation

French law enforcement doesn't discriminate when it comes to cannabis. Reminder of the law for consumption, possession, up to light trafficking. Then there are criminal sanctions for major possession or trafficking.

At the conference organized by the Noise la Ville, David Weinberger, Christian Ben Lakdhar and rapper Hype stressed that successful legalization could only be achieved by integrating dealers and ex-dealers into the market. In particular, they raised the possibility of a amnesty for all cannabis offenders in their lives.