Pubdate: Wed, 15 Jan 2014
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2014 Shaleen Title
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/mUgeOPdZ
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author: Shaleen Title
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n039/a04.html
Note:Three of three letters

SMOKING OUT THE MEANING IN COLORADO'S MARIJUANA LAW

In the Jan. 12 Outlook commentary 
"If 
you're white, feel free to smoke up," Stacey Patton and David J. 
Leonard say they are "not ready to celebrate the most recent moves to 
decriminalize marijuana" in Colorado because some states have 
decriminalized (but not legalized) marijuana but still have disparate 
rates of incarcerated black men.

Users caught with marijuana are often issued civil fines or ordered 
to undergo treatment. In some jurisdictions that have decriminalized 
marijuana, police will arrest users on technicalities, such as the 
presence of paraphernalia, and those arrests often disproportionately 
affect people of color.

Colorado's law is the first legalization law in the nation. Before it 
passed, there were 
10,000 
marijuana possession arrests in Colorado each year. Now anyone age 21 
or older can purchase, possess and privately use marijuana free of 
interference by the police. This also means police cannot claim the 
smell or view of marijuana in order to racially profile.

Instead of criticizing the voters of Colorado, Ms. Patton and Mr. 
Leonard should commend them for taking a step in the right direction.

Shaleen Title, Revere, Mass.

The writer is a board member of Marijuana Majority.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D