Mass Incarceration of Cannabis and Minorities
Cannabis is the oldest crop cultivated by a man with its history dating 12,000 years ago (Cartagena, 2019). Its seeds had nutrition value, with the fiber used to make hemp rope and clothing and the oil to make paint with the flowering part used for medicinal and spiritual purposes. Ancient records on Cannabis originates from China (Cartagena, 2019). Muslims, because alcohol was a sin they facilitated the spread of the herb to the world. However, the crop later became recognized under the category of Schedule 1 drug with the likes of Heroin and others under the Controlled Substances Act in 1972(Cartagena, 2019). Enabling the advancement of mass incarcerations.
Racial discrimination in America played a part in Cannabis, becoming a schedule 1 drug. The situation, just like the slavery period, remains fluid to date with more blacks imprisoned than the whites yet charged with the same offenses with more blacks and Latinos falling victims of racialized policing. More than ten states legalize the use of marijuana, and yet more people of color get charged because of marijuana (Cartagena, 2019). The hypocrisy of the government in convicting more blacks and using Cannabis as a reason to deport the Mexicans results in the incarceration of humans (Cartagena, 2019).since they recognize the medicinal value of the herb but still pretend it’s illegal.
Reference
Cartagena, K. (2019). The Mass Incarceration of Minorities and Cannabis. Retrieved from https://www.inkedmag.com/original-news/massincarceration-cannabis