In California, officials with the city of Oakland have been working for more than a year to create and implement the city’s Dispensary Equity Permit Program, and with the winners of Oakland dispensary licenses having been announced, the fruits of their labor are being realized.
Tag Archives: Racial Disparity
City Announces First Cannabis Dispensary Permit Recipients Under Equity Program
OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 31, 2018 /Weed Wire/ — The City of Oakland held a public drawing today to select qualified individuals and businesses to be eligible for four (4) new cannabis dispensary permits made available specifically to equity applicants. Those selected were Alphonso T. Blunt Jr., Marshall Crosby, Rickey McCullough, and Zhongzhang Yan.
Kwanza Hall Says New Marijuana Law a Victory for the People of Atlanta Keeps Families Safer, Saves Taxpayers Millions
ATLANTA, Oct. 11, 2017 /Weed Wire/ – Upon the announcement of the signing of legislation today by Mayor Kasim Reed to reclassify Atlanta’s marijuana laws, Kwanza Hall stated the following: “We should all thank the Mayor for his willingness to sign this ordinance into law.”
Atlanta Public Safety Committee Approves Cannabis Decriminalization Ordinance
On Sept. 26, 2017, in Georgia, the Atlanta Public Safety Committee voted 3-1 in favor of a cannabis decriminalization ordinance that would reduce the penalty for cannabis possession.
Sen. Cory Booker Says Marijuana Should be Legal in America
In a Facebook live address, Cory Booker introduced legislation that would legalize pot at the federal level citing that current drug laws “are badly broken” and disproportionately hurt minority communities.
86 Percent of NYPD Marijuana Possession Arrests Affect Black and Latino New Yorkers
On July 11, 2017, the Drug Policy Alliance announced that a report it had commissioned by the Marijuana Arrest Research Project had been released, revealing that marijuana possession arrests under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s tenure are marked by a high rate of racial disparity.
Tale of Two New Yorks Endures under de Blasio as NYPD Continues Discriminatory Marijuana Arrests
NEW YORK, July 11, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — A new report released today by the Marijuana Arrest Research Project, commissioned by the Drug Policy Alliance, shows that marijuana possession arrests under Mayor de Blasio continue to be marked by extremely high racial disparities, as was the case under the Bloomberg and Giuliani administrations.
Are Changes Coming to New York Recreational Marijuana Laws?
In New York, recreational marijuana-use is still illegal, but some New York lawmakers think that it is close to changing.
California Roll Out: Oakland Medical Cannabis Permit Application Now Available
On May 23, 2017, in California, the Oakland medical cannabis permit application was released for those interested in cultivating, manufacturing, distributing, delivering, transporting and testing medical cannabis.
Congressman to Talk Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act
On May 15, 2017, Congressman Tom Garrett, R-Va., announced that he is going to hold a press conference outside of the U.S. Capitol on May 17 to discuss H.R. 1227, the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017.
Virginia Marijuana Arrests Continue to Hit Black Communities
When it comes to marijuana enforcement, it’s no secret that racial disparities persist even though black and white communities use marijuana at similar rates. The most recent reminder of this comes from the Old Dominion State, where Virginia marijuana arrests continue to disproportionately affect black communities.
Maryland Governor Orders Disparity Study on State’s MMJ Program
On April 27, 2017, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced that he had ordered the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs to launch a disparity study on the state’s medical marijuana program.
New Study Finds Racial Disparity in New Orleans’ Pot-Related Arrests
A new study finds African-Americans are arrested far more than other groups for marijuana-related crimes in New Orleans. The Vera Institute of Justice looked at police statistics from 2010 to 2015. The study found 85 percent of those charged with marijuana-related crimes other than distribution were African-American.
Weekly CannaBit: Dramatic Decline in Marijuana Arrests in Washington, DC
Weekly CannaBit for the week of April 4, 2016: Arrests for marijuana-related offenses in Washington, D.C., began falling in 2011, but since city residents legalized adult use in 2014, the decline has been dramatic. Total arrests have fallen 95% since 2011, and arrests for possession alone have fallen 99% over the same period.