Chapter 1: Historical Context of Racial Disparities

The prosperity brought by the gold rush of the 1800s significantly benefited many White Americans, yet this affluence came at a grave price — the devastation of Indigenous populations through disease and violence. This historical narrative illustrates how the allure of wealth often conceals the uncomfortable truth of privilege — where one group's gain is frequently built upon the suffering of another. The evolution of the marijuana sector in the United States reflects this troubling trend.

Before the declaration of a "war on drugs" by President Nixon and the initiation of Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign, Harry Anslinger, who was the inaugural Commissioner of the U.S. Treasury Department's Federal Bureau of Narcotics, set the precedent for the nation's stringent approach to punishing individuals for minor drug offenses. The anti-marijuana sentiment peaked with the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which criminalized the purchase, sale, or possession of marijuana. Similar to the prohibition of alcohol, the ban on marijuana resulted in negative societal outcomes, particularly impacting racial minorities. An ACLU report states, "For decades, marijuana laws have been weaponized against Black and Brown individuals, squandering taxpayer resources and exacerbating mass incarceration."

Despite the federal government's unwavering stance on marijuana prohibition, public usage persisted across various racial, ethnic, and economic groups, revealing the absurdity of its criminalization. As marijuana legality evolved regionally, White individuals benefited from a system that allowed them to cultivate, sell, and distribute marijuana, while Black individuals faced a disproportionate number of arrests for possession. This disparity stands in stark contrast to the emergence of White owners of medical marijuana dispensaries in predominantly Black areas such as New Orleans, underscoring the urgent need for restorative justice.

The paradox of the marijuana industry's growth is particularly evident when juxtaposed with the excessive punitive measures faced by many Black individuals associated with marijuana. There’s a cruel irony in the wealth amassed by White entrepreneurs during this "green rush," juxtaposed against the imprisonment of many Black individuals. For instance, Kevin O'Brien Allen, a Black man serving a life sentence in Angola prison for selling $20 worth of marijuana to a childhood friend, epitomizes this injustice. Allen's life sentence, imposed under the three-strikes rule, starkly contrasts with the fortunes amassed by White individuals in the same state’s marijuana industry, highlighting a deeply flawed justice system. How can society move forward without addressing these inequities through restorative justice?

If we fail to address the disproportionate incarceration of Black individuals for marijuana-related offenses, we tacitly accept an injustice — that the very substance enriching White Americans simultaneously fuels the incarceration of Black individuals. Society sends mixed messages, condemning marijuana possession when it involves a Black person while celebrating the profits earned by White-owned dispensaries. Historical systemic racism has made it significantly easier for White individuals to acquire business licenses, secure initial funding, and cover the operational costs of medical marijuana dispensaries. Consequently, Black individuals face punishment simply due to a lack of similar opportunities. The injustice is palpable; imprisoning a Black man for selling the same substance that enriches so many White individuals is not just paradoxical — it is fundamentally unjust.

Chapter 2: The Irony of Legalization and Its Impacts

The first video titled "Cannabis Is Unjustly Being Used as a Weapon in Our Racist Police State" explores the intersection of marijuana laws and systemic racism in the United States, shedding light on how enforcement disproportionately impacts Black and Brown communities.

While many White entrepreneurs may rejoice at the federal reclassification of marijuana as a Schedule III substance, acknowledging its medical benefits, this change does little to mitigate the struggles faced by Black and Brown individuals who have been over-policed for marijuana-related crimes. The "War on Drugs" was a misguided initiative. Rather than enhancing support for those grappling with substance dependency, the "just say no" campaign of the Reagan era alienated individuals using so-called "hard drugs." Marijuana became stigmatized alongside more dangerous substances, particularly affecting racial minorities.

As early as the 1920s, government-sponsored campaigns propagated false narratives about marijuana, employing racist stereotypes to dissuade Americans from its use. The anti-marijuana movement has consistently relied on racist and pseudoscientific rhetoric that predominantly targeted Mexican and Black populations. For instance, in 1915, the Ogden Standard's front page warned readers against "deadly marihuana rolled in cigarettes," claiming it had "become the curse of the Southern Republic."

While numerous states have now decriminalized marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes, the absence of restorative justice for Black individuals and others convicted of marijuana offenses remains glaring. These individuals deserve release and the expungement of their records. Yet, this has not been adequately addressed at the state level. In October 2022, President Biden pardoned many federal and D.C. offenses related to simple marijuana possession, indicating a willingness to embrace change. Nonetheless, the reclassification of marijuana and the fragmented decriminalization efforts across the nation do little to remedy the damage inflicted on generations of Black individuals.

As the predominantly White marijuana industry flourishes, we must remember that not everything that glitters is gold. The wealth of many White marijuana entrepreneurs has been built, in part, on the suffering of Black individuals. This reality necessitates a social reckoning, particularly among dispensary owners profiting from the marijuana industry. Engaging in restorative justice is crucial to finally confronting the systemic racism that has plagued our criminal justice system. The injustice of marijuana being a source of White wealth while exacerbating Black incarceration rates must be addressed.

The second video, "13TH | FULL FEATURE | Netflix," delves into the historical and systemic factors contributing to the current state of racial inequality and mass incarceration in America, providing crucial context for understanding the complexities of these issues.