Marijuana & Communities of Color
“Weed is the New Crack”
Do NOT Legalize Marijuana… it will destroy the black community.
Do NOT Legalize Marijuana… it will destroy the black community.
Four African-American youth beginning their decent into addiction and poverty
after receiving a joint from a big brother. "This is good shit, man", one says."
The effects of marijuana on the black community parallels that of crack cocaine.
after receiving a joint from a big brother. "This is good shit, man", one says."
The effects of marijuana on the black community parallels that of crack cocaine.
“It will devastate the African-American community…
It will devastate any chance of our children having a future.”
- Bishop Jethro James, Paradise Baptist Church
It will devastate any chance of our children having a future.”
- Bishop Jethro James, Paradise Baptist Church
In a study published in the American Journal of Addiction, it was found that marijuana use disorder was greatest among African Americans as compared to other races and ethnicities. In addition, African Americans experienced higher rates of co-occurring use disorders including major depressive episodes as well as other psychosocial and adverse consequences. Many within the black and inner-city community are opposed to the legalization of marijuana. One Reverend said that all legalization in California accomplished, was to "Give storefronts to dope dealers." In fact, a recent Emerson Poll found that - over 75% of African-Americans are against Legalization … - and over 77% of Hispanics/Latinos are against Legalization… And King Saint correctly called it out saying that "Weed is the New Crack in the black community." He cites his experiences as a black man facing the epidemic of weed in the black community and all the problems it causes - depression, anxiety, squandering money, and how it destroys a person's potential - he says “Do not use marijuana… it oppresses the black community!” Marijuana is devastating to the African-American Community and communities of color. It is already endemic to many inner-city communities, and legalization will only create an epidemic from which those communities will never recover. And in terms of epidemiology, the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that use by African Americans (11.1%) is higher than for both Latino (9.1%), and white (9.0%) populations. Similarly, Cannabis Use Disorder (DSM-V), is higher for the black populations (4.5%), followed by Hispanic (2.6%), white (2.2%), and Asian (1.3%) populations. Legalization of marijuana is a counterfeit and artificially constructed policy and has nothing to do with social justice. In fact, it will truly destroy the very people it is "intended" to help. Bishop Jethro James of Paradise Baptist Church called it right on target when he said, “It will devastate the African-American community… It will devastate any chance of our children having a future.” The fact is, that as according to another community advocate, “Legalization is really about the rich becoming richer - they don't care about our poor, our communities, our youth and families... black or white.” With legalization, inner-cities and communities of color will suffer marijuana harms at a disproportionate rate to the suburban and rural communities… and these are communities which already suffer the highest poverty rates, rates of broken families, poor education, and the highest incidence of crimes and violence. They certainly do not need another risk factor to contend with. “A system of government is corrupt when it is strictly profit-driven,
not driven to serve the best interests of its people.” -- Suzanne Kassem |