Ibram X. Kendi Instagram – From @the_emancipator 👊🏿
•
On Monday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore issued pardons for more than 175,000 cannabis-related convictions, stating, “Marylanders should not continue to face barriers to housing, employment or educational opportunities based on convictions for conduct that is no longer illegal.”
Moore’s executive order includes more than 150,000 misdemeanor convictions for simple possession of cannabis, per @guardian_us, and more than 18,000 misdemeanor convictions for use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia. Given that some have multiple convictions, Moore’s administration told the press that it expects to affect approximately 100,000 people convicted of misdemeanor charges.
The move carries with it implications for racial equity. As per @aclu, Black people in the U.S. are more than three times as likely to be arrested for cannabis-related offenses as White people. Pardons for drug-related offenses are a small step toward remedying this inequity, but they don’t undo harm for people who have been victimized by racist drug policies.
💬 What more should states do? Let us know in the comments below.
#maryland #cannabis #cannabissociety | Posted on 19/Jun/2024 17:35:00
