Report: African-Americans disproportionately targeted for pot

[Ed Barrow]

Source: Sacramento Bee

An analysis of arrest data in major California counties shows that African-Americans are far more likely to be booked for marijuuana possession - even though pot use is lower among blacks than whites.

Those are the results of a study by the Drug Policy Alliance, an advocacy group seeking alternatives to the drug war.

...

In Sacramento and San Francisco Counties, black residents were arrested for marijuana possession four times as often as white residents. In Los Angeles County, the disparity was more than three to one, according to the analysis of California arrest data from 2004 through 2008.

"These racially-biased (arrests for) marijuana offenses are a statewide phenomenon...in nearly every county and every police department in this state," said Stephen Gutwillig, California director for the Drug Policy Alliance.


Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/weed-wars/2010/06/report-african-americans-disproportionately-targeted-for-pot.html

[harry_pothead]

1. What a fucking shock.

The war on drugs, especially for cannabis, is and always has been nothing more than an excuse to beat down on young people and minorities.

EDIT: This cartoon pretty much sums it up:

[Endangered Specie]

2. In other news: Pope is Catholic, Rain is Wet, Bears shit in woods

[RainDog]

3. this is why I'm glad the NAACP has supported legalization in CA

b/c it removes one more way that the systemic racism in America can be enforced.

[WheelWalker]

5. Well reasoned...well stated.

[SocialistLez]

4. They wasted money on a report for this????? NT

[conspirator]

6. You could end the sentence in "targeted" n/t