WAR ON DRUGS

Experts disagree whether it would make drug use safer.

A district court judge ruled Thursday to halt the granting of recreational marijuana licenses in the city of Detroit over an ordinance that allegedly favors certain Detroit residents over other applicants.

Just like the failed and evil War on Drugs, a ban on menthols is a gift to criminals and will lead to harsh policing in Black communities.

The war against the War on Drugs now has an unlikely ally in GOP megadonor Charles Koch, with a Koch-backed group joining the Cannabis Freedom...

For better and mostly for worse, due to prohibition and the War on Drugs and more, marijuana has been tied to communities of color. But there is one shining example of marijuana being a huge positive influence: jazz.Jazz has been recognized as America's only original art form. Louis Armstrong, the first American jazz superstar, used marijuana. Caribbean immigrants largely entered the country through New Orleans and in the early 1900s brought their weed with them. But none of them has been declared America's only original art form.Jazz is... and as I said, those folks was getting high.

click to enlarge ShutterstockThe City of Detroit is finally taking recreational marijuana dispensary license applications, starting with longtime city residents.As part of its social equity program to help communities harmed by the War on Drugs enter the new industry, the city is granting "legacy" Detroiters priority in the application process.Applicants are considered "legacy" Detroiters if they've lived in Detroit for 15 of the last 30 years, lived in Detroit for 13 of the last 30 years and are low-income, or lived in Detroit for 10 of the last 30 years and have a past marijuana-related criminal conviction. "Legacy" Detroiters can also buy city-owned land at 25% of fair market value, with reduced application fees.Detroiters can apply online at detroitmeansbusiness.org/homegrown "Legacy" Detroiters are granted a six-week window to apply. Next, existing medical marijuana dispensary operators in Detroit will get a six-week priority window for recreational licenses. In a move not seen elsewhere, Detroit will also allow up to 35 cannabis consumption lounges in the city.

Marijuana plants are pictured at the Baker's marijuana nursery at Baker Medical Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)ANN ARBOR – Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit announced Tuesday that his office will no longer bring charges in cases related to marijuana or entheogenic plant use, possession or small-scale distribution. Today, I’m pleased to announce that we'll no longer be charging cases related to marijuana or entheogenic plants (naturally occurring psychedelics). If Washtenaw County’s largest city’s resolution decriminalized the use, growth and possession of psychedelic plants, the Prosecutor’s Office sees no point in bringing charges forward elsewhere in the county. For that reason, we will no longer be contesting expungement for marijuana or entheogenic-related offenses.”See the full policy directives for cannabis and marijuana and entheogenic plants.

Ive since read it and I have to say the movie is heartbreaking but the book even more so. To the point of this article: Not to anyones surprise, but our justice system is broken. As citizens we like to believe our justice system is equal for all. The supposedly well-intentioned War on Drugs has been disproven as more a war on the poor and people of color. We need to be aware of whats happening in our justice system and stand up for the under-represented.