Blacks Smoke Marijuana Less Than Whites, Get Arrested More

White people between the ages of 18 and 25 use marijuana at a higher rate than their black peers, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, so you would naturally assume that young white people would also have a higher arrest rate for marijuana possession than young black people. But that's not the case. A report released last week found that police in California's biggest cities arrest blacks for possession at four, five and even 13 times the rate of whites. It is this unequal enforcement of the marijuana laws — and the consequences for the African American community — that have led the California NAACP, along with the National Black Police Assn., to support Proposition 19. This page opposes Proposition 19, but regardless of whether the measure succeeds or fails, the racial inequity is real and should not continue unaddressed.

According to the new study, issued jointly by the California NAACP and the Drug Policy Alliance, blacks in Los Angeles are arrested for possession of marijuana at seven times the rate of whites; in San Diego, at six times the rate. In Torrance, the numbers are particularly striking, with blacks arrested at 13.8 times the rate of whites. Indeed, the phenomenon occurs in every county in the state and involves almost every police department. The upshot for those arrested, even if they don't end up in prison, is a permanent record that has lifelong consequences. Most marijuana possession arrests do not lead to long prison sentences these days, but having an arrest record and the stigma of being a "drug offender" negatively affects opportunities for employment and housing and higher education. Such information also is visible to credit agencies, licensing boards and banks. California recently downgraded the charge to an infraction — a positive step — but collateral damage is still likely; the low-income people most commonly arrested would have the most difficulty paying the fines for the infraction — and failure to do so would bring the charge back to a misdemeanor.

Why are blacks arrested at such disproportionate rates? The report concludes that it's not personal prejudice or racism on the part of police officers. The NAACP says it is the result of the long-standing strategy of saturating minority communities with officers who then overzealously stop and frisk people. Were such a strategy pursued in a white community, a high number of arrests would result there as well. The police say they are simply trying protect the citizens in high-crime areas.

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yea, cenk is right. In the subrubs, you have little to no cops while in the other places you do.

I said it once and I'll say it again.

tis good to live in the suburbs.

 

Driving while Black....

I'm tired of these trigger happy racist bastards who'll look at any brother (especially with a nice car) as a target. God forbid he pulls over Whitey.....:roll:

 

When I was smoking it as a teen or in the past as an adult, we'd smoke it in the rumpus room down stairs, in our homes, or in our cars...usually never outside. (maybe at a concert)

Where I live in the city (60%black 40%white), it's not unusual to pass a group of guys and smell weed emanating, or when I've had to wait for a bus in certain sections, I'll see dealers openly smoke while waiting for customers. Some brazenly spark up on the subway, too.

 

I think the report noted the NAACP suggested the high incidence is due to saturating minority communities with cops who overzealously stop and frisk people.

 

No surprise, really.

 

I read that, but I'm just expressing my disdain...lol

I see they listed Torrance and they're known racist cops....

 

And this is why I dont roadie when I do smoke, I smoke at the crib. I dont that much nowadays, I probably smoke 4 times a year.

 

IB's always got a brotha's back. :smt056

 

She sure does.

 

there's a reason why the cities are crowded with cops. That's where the most bodies are dropping. Philadelphia and Chicago are just a few cities that have hundreds of murders a year. Many of those killings are attributed to African-Americas. If there weren't cops in those areas, people would be complaining about that.

 

I got high once, I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It made me dizzy, sort of like being drug but nothing in my belly...

....I never really liked it. Meh...don't know what the fuss is about unless folk enjoy being light headed and wuzzy. I will the point about there being more cops is spot on.

...where I live to even see a police officer used to be RARE! And if you do they aren't doing anything but riding to work.......or coming back from work. My city, wanting to get tax breaks, opened up some of the property to section 8 and crime has started to creep up a bit.

.....ughh. I should tell yall about the lil punk I hit with my Commander last summer.

 

that's how Wilkes-Barre was, when I spent time up north. I spent a few years in a suburb there and 'never' heard the police. In Philly, I hear these jokers every day and night, multiple times. Petty crimes or not, there are still countless bodies dropping here (more times than not, someone black is involved), and that is always a case for concern. We need the police because these fools killing people, just dont give a shit.

 

hell I can even get them to go do a forgery case with all evidence I found and they out there producing evidence. aint that some shit !!!!!

 

Im with ya man. I never done drugs and I rarely drink. I remember my friends would laugh at me for not doing that shit....now. I tatsed beer and it sucks. dont get it. I will drink wine and champagne but beer !!!! hell to fuck no !!