Politics
Congressional Black And Hispanic Caucuses Focus On Marijuana Reform At Events
Organizations affiliated with black and hispanic members of Congress both featured panels covering marijuana issues at conferences they hosted this week.
On Wednesday, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute held a panel exploring the criminal justice, economic and public health aspects of cannabis legalization, which featured Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Cedric Richmond (D-LA). Experts discussed “marijuana policies, entrepreneurial opportunities, public health risks, and more,” according to the event’s website.
Madeline Martinez, executive director of NORML Oregon, spoke at the session and wrote in a Facebook post that it “was an amazing honor to be included.”
“As an activist who has been at the forefront of the reform movement for 20 years, it was a privilege to join my fellow Latinos at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute to strategize solutions to towards solving the moral and economic failures of the war on drugs and crafting solutions that put minorities and those most affected by the war in the front of the line to reap the benefits of legalization,” Martinez told Marijuana Moment.
Interestingly, the panel was sponsored by the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsible, an organization supported by several major alcohol corporations that’s working to prevent drunk driving.
The following day, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation kicked off its own marijuana panel: “The Black Experience In Cannabis,” which focused on civic engagement and community outreach issues.
On Friday, a separate CBC Foundation panel hosted by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) will tackle racial and social equity in the marijuana industry.
Hi @CoryBooker! 👋🏾 Thanks for co-hosting our panel on restorative justice & equity in the cannabis industry. Your leadership inspires me and gives me hope. #ALC2018 pic.twitter.com/H6UsBc5pSG
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) September 14, 2018
Taken together, the caucuses’ panels reflect a growing interest in ensuring that the voices of people of color are heard as more states opt to legalize cannabis—a subject that the CBC in particular has put significant energy toward.
For example, in July, the CBC emphasized that ending the federal prohibition of marijuana was one of ten “must-do policies” for the government in order to “address issues hurting both communities of color and rural communities.”
Beyond ending marijuana prohibition, the caucus has also previously called for the decriminalization of cannabis possession and use, automatic expungements for individuals convicted of misdemeanor marijuana offenses and an “easy path to expungement for those previously convicted of felonies for marijuana-related offense.”
And in May, CBC members introduced a bill that would remove marijuana from the list of federally banned substances.
CBC Chairman @RepRichmond signs our 1,300-page #JobsAndJustice Act of 2018 after a press conference on Thursday, May 10, 2018.
If passed, the legislation would increase the upward social mobility of Black families, and help ensure equal protection under the law. pic.twitter.com/7uuywa5JUX
— Black Caucus (@OfficialCBC) May 10, 2018
Members argue that these legislative steps would right some of the wrongs perpetuated by the war on drugs. Prohibitionist policies have historically targeted communities of color, especially in terms of racially disproportionate marijuana enforcement.
As we work to address the legacy the #WarOnDrugs, we must ensure that restorative justice is at the forefront of our #cannabis policies. @CoryBooker & I are leading the fight in Congress to build racial equity in the cannabis industry & reinvest in communities of color. #ALC2018 pic.twitter.com/PkygAEvXp5
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) September 14, 2018
Both the CHC and CBC events also incorporated discussion about issues that have evolved in states post-legalization—namely, how racially discriminatory marijuana enforcement efforts have had residual effects on individuals previously convicted of a cannabis-related offense. Reform advocates have pushed for inclusive marijuana policies that empower those most impacted by the drug war to be represented in the legal industry.
Black Lawmakers: Marijuana Decrim Is ‘Must-Do’ In First 100 Days of Democratic Congress
