Legalizing Marijuana Will Be On California Ballot In November

This November, voters in California will have a chance to vote on legalizing the sale of marijuana to adults as well as personal possession of marijuana.

Marijuana is a popular recreational drug. It has been studied, argued, and reported that it is less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol. Many African Africans are in prison or on probation because of nonviolent marijuana possession. In many of these cases, the individuals were using marijuana for their personal use.

Until marijuana sales and possession become legal, African Americans will continue to be disproportionately impacted. US marijuana policies, which rely primarily on criminal penalties and law enforcement, have basically been ineffective at controlling the use and sale of marijuana.

NORML which is a foundation that is working to reform marijuana laws has studied this issue and concluded in a report that while adult African Americans account for only 8.8% of the US population and 11.9% of annual marijuana users, they comprise 23%of all marijuana possession arrests in the United States.

The Huffington Post has a great article with more facts and details about marijuana.