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June 5, 2013

Report Finds Major Racial Disparity in Pot Arrests 
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A new report shows a wide racial disparity in arrests for possession of
marijuana. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, African
Americans are nearly four times as likely to be arrested for marijuana
possession than whites. The gap comes despite the fact pot usage amongst
whites and blacks is nearly equal. Overall, marijuana possession now
accounts for nearly half of all drug arrests. The ACLU concludes: "State
and local governments have aggressively enforced marijuana laws
selectively against Black people and communities, needlessly ensnaring
hundreds of thousands of people in the criminal justice system at
tremendous human and financial cost."

 

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