Pubdate: Tue, 14 Oct 2014
Source: Republican & Herald (PA)
Copyright: 2014 Associated Press
Contact:  http://republicanherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1047
Author: Ben Nuckols, Associated Press
Page: 4
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/racial.htm (Racial Issues)

RACE ADDED TO DEBATE ON LEGALIZING POT

WASHINGTON (AP) - A debate over legalizing marijuana in the nation's 
capital is focusing on the outsized number of arrests of African 
Americans on minor drug charges.

Pot legalization supporters in Colorado and Washington state also 
spoke about racial justice, but their voters are mostly white and 
their campaigns focused more on other issues. The race factor hits 
closer to many more homes in the District, where nearly half the 
population is black.

And that means this referendum could change how the nation talks 
about marijuana, some drug-policy experts say.

"I think D.C. is going to probably set off a chain of events in which 
communities of color generally and cities in particular take on the 
issue of legalization as a racial justice, social justice issue in a 
much stronger way than they have so far," said Bill Piper, director 
of national affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance.

There are many other differences between the District and states that 
have legalized pot. The city is a patchwork of local and federal 
land, and there will be no lighting up in front of the White House or 
at the Jefferson Memorial. Also, Washington remains under the thumb 
of Congress, which could thwart the will of the voters as it has on 
other matters where liberal District tendencies clash with 
conservative priorities on Capitol Hill.

Nonetheless, the District is on track to join Colorado and Washington 
state in legalizing marijuana. Apoll last month showed nearly 2 of 
every 3 voters favor the initiative, whichwill be on November's 
ballot. Voters in Alaska and Oregon also decide this fall whether to 
legalize pot.

Roughly half of the District's 646,000 residents are black. The 
American Civil Liberties Union found that in 2010, blacks were eight 
times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession 
in the District, and 91 percent of those arrested that year were black.

"It would alleviate a lot of problems," said Kenneth Agee, 46, a 
heating and air conditioning mechanic who plans to vote for legalization.

The D.C. Council tried earlier this year to address racial 
disparities by decriminalizing marijuana, as 17 states have done. 
Possession of up to one ounce of pot in the District is now subject 
to a $25 fine, among the lowest in the nation. The law took effect in 
July, despite an attempt by Rep. Andy Harris, a Maryland Republican, 
to block the measure.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom