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Broader Societal Effects of Cannabis Convictions

Broader Effects of Cannabis Convictions on Society

Weedbates Contributor
04/16/2022

Thousands of residents who have marijuana convictions in every metropolitan area of the United States and beyond deserve a fresh start and opportunities. It is one way to make progress on criminal justice reform to balance the scales and remove barriers to employment.

Societal Consequences 

Considering the consequences of marijuana convictions on society, it is a shame that most people still consume drugs that have not been proven to be harmful to the human body. Many people believe that high-grade cannabis, which contains multiple cannabinoids, is a relatively harmless substance because it has been consumed for thousands of years. But there is no scientific evidence to support this belief. This is the main reason for its importance for all Americans to decriminalize marijuana possession and use—especially those who are minorities.

What are the consequences of cannabis convictions for society at large?

The main consequence is that it has a profoundly negative effect on the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans. It is time to end this destructive policy and end the over-criminalization of cannabis and create a path forward for all Americans.


Demographic Trends of Marijuana Use

Some studies have shown that the use of marijuana by minorities and adolescents has no significant effect because young people are more likely to use illicit substances in general (for example, alcohol) than older people. 

Since 2000 (when it was still legal), the prevalence of cannabis among high school students has increased dramatically. Most students reported higher consumption in the past month of 2016 than in 2011. In 2016, almost half of all junior high school students reported cannabis use. Black and Hispanic youth report using drugs at the same rates as their white peers, with statistics showing similar drug dependence and abuse rates. Overall, these figures are not an outlier for the United States — about 30% of U.S. teenagers aged 12-17 reported cannabis use in 2016, and it was more common among African American teens (66%) than other ethnicities (34%).


The Need for Criminal Justice Reform

The topic of marijuana legalization is a contentious one. For most people, marijuana use is inevitably a part of their lives. So many are growing up with the drug in their homes and the effects on their bodies and minds. But the effects on society are enormous. 

According to a 2015 report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), marijuana is now the most used illegal substance in the United States. The prevalence of cannabis use and its consequences have been studied extensively, but not much has been done to address how marijuana affects society. The implications on employment, crime rates, public health, and public policy are too vast to ignore. It is not known whether it will reduce crime rates or create more criminals than it removes from society through jobs.

Many researchers have studied group differences between cannabis users related to gender, race/ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic status. Those who smoke cannabis tend to be less educated and earn less money than those who do not use cannabis or do not drink as often as they do.

A large body of research also suggests that there may be an association between marijuana use and problems with school performance (eighth graders have higher rates of marijuana possession arrest than fourth graders). So, when students smoke pot while studying for exams or homework — that might be a problem. Having said that, there is also a wide medical and recreational use of marijuana that impacts society positively. 

The United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the developed world. Racial disparities in cannabis convictions are well documented as the main factor behind this disparity, and Judiciary data suggest that blacks may be arrested for possessing cannabis more than white’s half of persons sentenced to prison are blacks.

For many people, this is just criminal justice reform. For others, it is a type of civil rights issue. For those in between, it may not seem important at first glance; but it could make the difference between a job and an arrest record or an employment opportunity.

In 2017, there were over 1 million Americans with marijuana arrests; over 600,000 repeat offenders were released from probation/parole supervision on marijuana charges alone, and over 100,000 people committed new crimes due to marijuana convictions (as defined by the OJP). In 2016 alone, there were around 478,000 arrests for marijuana possession – less than half of the number of arrests for heroin possession (over 1 million) and far less than any year since 2007 (when nearly 1 million people were arrested).

Omri Nimeri, who blogs at Civil Rights Project, noted “the reality is that many people who are arrested each year have suffered long-term consequences after being charged with offense or crime. These problems are compounded by arrest records which can lead to discrimination against people seeking employment or housing based upon their race or national origin. The harsh realities of the criminal justice system are disproportionately affecting these communities, restorative justice programs offer real hope to these communities”

The question then becomes: why should one care? And particularly where cannabis consumers of all races are concerned (and those convicted in other areas such as prostitution), how would this affect one’s prospects for employment? Depending on how one frames it, perhaps this isn’t such a big deal as some might think:

There is a serious social stigma regarding the use of drugs, and it does not mean something like “smoking pot goes against one’s values as American’s”; it means something like “one should be locked up until he can prove he deserves his freedom back and is not a criminal.” some folks will say they don't care about being locked up as they gave up their freedom years ago they didn't have any freedom.

 

Reforms to Look For

As cannabis continues to be legalized in several states, the debate over its effect on the criminal justice system and drug policy continues to rage. People who have been arrested for marijuana possession have been denied jobs and were discriminated against by employers because of their arrest and convictions.

One study conducted by the RAND Corporation concluded that felony convictions for marijuana possession could result in a loss of employment opportunities, more commonly cited as the reason for their conviction. Many people with marijuana convictions are also victims of job discrimination.

According to evidence compiled by a report from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), people with felony marijuana arrests face declining job opportunities. They are less likely to act against such discriminatory treatment than those without arrests or convictions who are not targeted by employers or denied jobs because of their arrest record or conviction status. 

In 2014, 8-year-old Ethan Couch was found not guilty of killing four pedestrians and injuring two others in an accident caused by intoxication from alcohol and prescription drugs he was taking for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Couch’s lawyer argued that his client had “chronic THC intoxication” caused by being put on medication for ADHD. He was found guilty of driving under the influence (DUI) of THC in 2013 when he crashed into another vehicle while drunk and high on alcohol and prescription drugs he had taken for ADHD. He received a suspended sentence instead of probation when it was revealed that he hadn’t committed any crime at all.

Couch’s sentences were ignored until his sentence was overturned after a video emerged showing him laughing while driving under the influence while having his two younger siblings on board. His sentencing judge called Couch “a sociopathic child molester who cannot be trusted with limited responsibility”.

Research was done by the University of Arizona; 2,000 Arizona residents were surveyed regarding their opinions on the legalization of marijuana. The study found that people who have experienced the criminal-justice system with pot charges are more likely to favor legalizing marijuana. And those who have encountered unemployment due to a conviction for marijuana possession are more likely to oppose limiting access to employment opportunities for those convicted of drug possession.

 

The Opportunity of Marijuana Legalization

Since the House voted on cannabis legalization, there has been a flurry of back-and-forth stories in the media about how legalization would affect society. Since marijuana is still illegal and people cannot call their elected representatives to discuss this issue, it is up to all people to keep the conversation going.

It is expected that after the House’s vote, people can continue talking about it, so that they can all make progress toward a positive outcome for people who deserve a new start in life. 


Aiding Communities and Individuals

It is not easy to change the perception of something. But it can be done. people can help make this happen, but there are several ways to do it:

• Educating the public about the benefits of legalizing cannabis for people who want to use it instead of going to jail for a crime they didn’t commit.

• Helping the people find employment when they are released from prison—and turning their lives around once they are released.

• Freeing up additional funding for programs that provide jobs and opportunities to those who have been arrested and locked up in jails and prisons.


Injustice As a Whole

“Possession of cannabis is a criminal offense in every state in the United States. Yet, one in four American adults today is arrested for marijuana possession. More than thirty percent of Americans can be arrested for cannabis possession, even though the drug is legal almost everywhere else in the country.”

Marijuana arrests are increasing exponentially and disproportionately affecting minorities, according to a report by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), released before the 2016 election. The organization found that minorities were arrested at three times the rate of whites for marijuana possession — resulting in more than 10 percent of blacks and Latinos being arrested each year for pot.

This law enforcement practice has disproportionately impacted blacks and Latinos. In 2013 alone, blacks accounted for nearly half (49 percent) of all drug arrests, while Latinos represented 31 percent of those arrested.

The ACLU’s report claims that these cases represent “an injustice not only to the people who have been convicted but also to their families and communities who have done nothing wrong but have just been unlucky enough to be a part of this system,” adding that “the disproportionate impact continues when one considers that whites are far less likely to be stopped and searched for drugs than blacks or Latinos are.”

The Bottom Line

It is impossible to say how many people who went through jail due to drug convictions because of their cannabis conviction would re-enter society as criminals if they were let go from prison for pot possession. This is because authorities have put forth no statistical evidence regarding any success from going off any drugs once released from jail. 

The only known thing about this system is how it made lives worse, such as those mentioned above who do not deserve it and are being unfairly punished because they possess marijuana legally as other citizens do while they fall prey to unjust laws on pot possession already in place as well as other minor infractions and crimes such as theft or property crime which can be prosecuted under similar laws on specific charge. Thus, making it effectively a double-standard under which minority citizens are persecuted unfairly and disproportionately based on their race or ethnicity alone 

It is unfair that this law enforces their claims by any law without actual evidence from the authorities themselves. It brings back to the original point about innocence when considering the impact on society.

Disclaimer: This material is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on for legal, medical, financial, or any other form of professional advice.

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