The drug war was not intended to protect the people. In fact, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently admitted that racial, ethnic, and class prejudice played a large role in the agency’s founding. Although drug criminalization helps continue the cycle of poverty, homelessness, and incarceration for non-white communities, California officials announce a plan to use cannabis tax revenue to fund equity programs to support citizens who were disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.
Eligible cities and counties can apply for grants for the Cannabis Equity Grants Programs for Local Jurisdictions through December 14. However, the operation of cannabis businesses is banned in more than half of the state’s jurisdictions, allowing for more illicit trading in California. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) acknowledges the barriers of marijuana criminalization in a recent statement:
“Offering technical support, regulatory compliance assistance, and assistance with securing the capital necessary to begin a business will further the stated intent of [legalization] by reducing barriers to entry into the regulated cannabis industry…Offering these types of support will also aid the state in its goal of eliminating or reducing the illicit cannabis market by bringing more people into the legal marketplace.”
Although California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) recently vetoed a crucial component of drug policy reform legislation, Newsom addresses the consequences of cannabis criminalization by signing a number of cannabis reform laws, including one that will make record-sealing of past convictions more accessible.
Laws change all the time. A person’s race, ethnicity, or class should not keep them stuck within the confines of their criminal record. Easy Expunctions can help you wipe your record clean at an affordable price. Visit our website at easyexpunctions.com to learn more about our fully online services!