Facebook Publication Date: 2/6/2023 15:02
As I said earlier this month, during this time of celebrating Black people we also have to take a hard and critical look at the present situation that deeply affects Black people.
One of these ways is in the cannabis trade.
Now I’m aware that most of you know that I’m a substance abuse specialist.
This is not at all promoting illicit substances.
In most states in this country marijuana is either medicinalized, decriminalized, or outright legal for recreational use. So we can stipulate that piece.
We are not talking about the relative morality here. We are talking about economics.
I will repost what I put on my personal feed just in case it doesn’t transfer over.
Why this matters during this month is because this is one of the most egregious forms of white supremacy masquerading as morality and legislating primacy for dominant culture.
What is this have to do with the present and the future of Black americans?
It is worth panning out and looking through a wider lens.
What are things that are either completely permissible or conveniently ignored for white people for which black people face serious repercussions?
Confront, reflect, and discuss.
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From my personal feed:
Regardless of how any one individual feels about cannabis/marijuana, it is an inescapable fact that the greatest beneficiaries of the shift in both popular culture and legislation on State and National levels have been White people.
Meanwhile, there are indeed people of color still languishing in prisons.
Both the social capital and the economic capital of legalizing/decriminalizing marijuana have been basically nothing more or less than income and commodity transfer to White people.
Why is this important during Black History Month?
Because the future of our country, Black people, particularly young Black men, who are ever so much more disproportionately incarcerated and futures destroyed by past legislation that will not be mitigated and rectified in the present day absolutely matters.
Because treating marijuana as yet another commodity to be exploited both by individual entrepreneurs and by big tobacco who are moving in on the Cannabis industry absolutely matters.
Because the legislation that precludes people with felony convictions for marijuana / cannabis are not because of the relative dangerousness or fear of recidivism or even character bashing simply it about economics.
Taking out and excluding an entire cohort of people who could potentially profit and be leaders in this industry, because that’s exactly what it is, is not about morality.
It’s about tactics and economic strategy.
Which means it’s about white supremacy.
Discuss.
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