Pubdate: Mon, 05 May 2014
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2014 Star Tribune
Contact: http://www.startribunecompany.com/143
Website: http://www.startribune.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/266
Author: Michael Friedman
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n390/a02.html

THE POLICE INTEREST, OR RATHER CONFLICT THEREOF

The executive directors of the Minnesota Law Enforcement Coalition, 
writing about public perceptions of their involvement in the debate 
over medical marijuana ("Law enforcement is open to careful first 
steps," April 30), choose not to mention a study about marijuana that 
has in fact already been completed. The American Civil Liberties 
Union reported in 2013 that despite evidence that blacks and whites 
use marijuana at similar rates, blacks are 7.8 times more likely than 
whites to be arrested for marijuana possession in Minnesota. To 
determine why that is, here is the study I suggest the Legislature 
move forward with. First prohibit police agencies from (1) receiving 
the proceeds from forfeitures, (2) applying for or receiving grants 
in which marijuana enforcement is an outcome measure and (3) 
undertaking searches based solely on the presence of marijuana ... 
and then measure the changes to law enforcement's interest in the 
health impacts of marijuana.

Michael Friedman, Minneapolis

The writer is executive director of the Legal Rights Center.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom