“By standing up, participating, and driving change, we can claim our rightful place in an industry that can provide economic empowerment, healing, and growth for the Latinx community.”
Written by Jason Ortiz and Jessica F. Gonzalez
Cannabis policy is rarely on the list of issues highlighted during Hispanic Heritage Month, but our people have been devastated by the war on drugs at home and abroad. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we wanted to highlight the unique experiences of the Latino community at the intersection of U.S. cannabis policy with five aspects of cannabis that every Latino should know about.
As we end the war on cannabis users, we need to ensure that our communities repair the damage done to us by the war on drugs, that prisoners are freed and reunited with their families, and that the profits of the legal cannabis industry are protected. You have a right and an interest in ensuring that you receive the following: It comes back to us as an investment in the community.
1. Incarceration and deportation of Latinos
A disproportionate number of people currently in federal prisons are Latino, and many of the harshest sentences, including life sentences, are given to nationals.
Edwin Rubis is one of them. Edwin served 27 years of a 40-year sentence for his role in a marijuana distribution operation.
Ismael Lira was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the marijuana distribution operation.
Rafael Hernandez-Carrillo was sentenced to life in prison for marijuana distribution.
Edwin, Ismael, and Rafael are all languishing in prison, and 24 states have launched legal marijuana trafficking operations on a scale far beyond anything these men could have dreamed of.
There are ways to immediately reduce the incarceration of Latinos in federal prisons. President Joe Biden has the authority to commute the sentences of Edwin, Ismael, and Raphel and reunite them with their families. As a community, we can pressure him to do so by contacting his office directly through the Last Prisoner Project's Countdown to Amnesty campaign.
2. Lack of data on Latino arrests for marijuana
According to the ACLU's investigative report, A Tale of Two Nations, which analyzed marijuana possession arrests and related racial disparities from 2010 to 2018, one of the key findings was that “data collection failures led to fewer marijuana arrests. “obstructing a comprehensive understanding of racial disparities in the United States.''
The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting data did not distinguish Latino individuals from other racial groups until 2013, making it impossible to distinguish between Latinos and non-Latinos in black and white populations. This lack of disaggregation masks potential disparities in arrest rates for Latinos, inflates arrest rates for whites, and underestimates the true disparities in arrest rates for blacks and whites.
As an advocate who relies on data for policy reform, it is extremely frustrating and difficult to advocate for the Latino community when there is no reliable data on marijuana arrests at all. Without clear, accurate data, it will be impossible to fully understand the true impact of cannabis-related enforcement on communities, making it difficult to highlight disparities and drive policy change. .
The lack of adequate representation in arrest statistics also limits our ability to inform and educate the public and policy makers about the specific challenges facing Latino communities in the criminal justice system. Without this information, advocacy efforts remain incomplete and less effective. By requiring Latino-specific data points in all data collection, we can better understand the true impact Prohibition has had on our communities.
Fortunately, as part of the FBI's transition to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), more specific race-based data is being collected, including, for the first time, It also includes features that can be identified as or ethnic group (Hispanic/Latino and American Indian). This change must be applied to all criminal justice-related reporting systems.
3. Despite state legalization, involvement of non-citizens remains risky
Additionally, Latino immigrants and non-nationals face significant challenges in accessing the cannabis industry, primarily due to federal illegality, creating significant legal risks for non-nationals.
Participating in the cannabis industry, whether as an employee or a business owner, can jeopardize your immigration status and lead to serious consequences such as revocation of citizenship, revocation of green cards, and even deportation. This legal uncertainty deters many immigrants and non-citizens from pursuing opportunities in the cannabis field, as any involvement, regardless of state regulations, could be construed as violating federal law. I am.
This problem could be addressed by removing employment in the cannabis industry from the “crime of moral corruption” within immigration law. Our community has an opportunity to improve the lives of all immigrants by encouraging our elected officials to make these small changes that have a big impact.
4. Lack of Latino participation in the regulated cannabis industry
According to the MJBiz Daily Diversity Report, an average of 5.7% of all cannabis licenses nationwide are owned by Latino business owners.
A survey conducted by Q&A Research Inc. and the National Hispanic Cannabis Council (NHCC) found that 40 percent of respondents use cannabis monthly, and approximately 2.5 million people across the country are “acculturated.” It has been suggested that or “bicultural” Latino adults may be regular consumers. According to the NHCC, this demographic is estimated to spend approximately $2.5 billion annually on cannabis.
These statistics clearly do not suggest a lack of interest in cannabis among Latino individuals, but rather indicate greater barriers to entry that require attention.
It's important to make information about business opportunities, licensing requirements, and industry regulations widely accessible through culturally relevant and language-specific resources. Bilingual educational programming provides the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the industry. Unfortunately, bilingual and culturally relevant programming is still rare.
5. Latinos deserve to be part of the cannabis industry
As a Latino advocate with over 20 years of experience in cannabis policy, it is still disheartening to look around and see the lack of Latino representation in various cannabis fields.
In our experience, discussions around social equity and justice often lack the critical perspective of Latinx voices, leaving an important part of the conversation missing. As communities that have been disproportionately affected by outdated cannabis laws (whether in the United States or their home countries), legalization is essential to achieving the goal of helping communities most impacted by the cannabis wars. Involvement of the Latino community in policy is essential. .
By joining and supporting organizations like the Bay Area Latino Cannabis Alliance (BALCA) and the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA), Latinos can provide a platform for representation and support policy changes and business opportunities. You can take on a leadership role that connects you directly.
conclusion
In case you need a reminder of the power of the Latino community, the Latino community makes up 20 percent of the U.S. population and is the second largest racial or ethnic group in the country.
Additionally, the report states that as of 2023, Latino entrepreneurs will have founded 5 million businesses across the United States, generating more than $800 billion in annual revenue.
An estimated 36.2 million Hispanics will be eligible to vote this year, up from 32.3 million in 2020, according to the Pew Center. This makes Latinos the second largest voting group in the country, giving them increasing influence in major elections.
Our communities have been targeted, destroyed, and exploited. By standing up, getting involved, and driving change, we can claim our rightful place in an industry that can provide economic empowerment, healing, and growth for the Latinx community.
Jason Ortiz is the director of strategic initiatives for the Last Prisoner Project, former executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and founder and former president of the CT Puerto Rico Agenda.
Jessica F. Gonzalez, Esq., is an attorney with Rudick Law Group, founder of cannabis education consulting firm Veridis Quo, and board member of Supernova Women.
Marijuana on the ballot: U.S. Senate and gubernatorial candidates support legalization
Photo by Mike Latimer.
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