Written by: Aly K. Benson

AKB is a biracial indigenous media personality & digital strategy consultant in the Canadian cannabis industry based out of Abbotsford, BC.

Historically, cannabis has had a systemic issue with racial injustices. The war on drugs, higher raid counts in specific neighborhoods, higher arrests counts. It even goes further than that; in the second half of the 20th Century, things kept heading downhill, with the criminalization laws stemming worldwide. And popular opinion is people are beginning to harshly ridicule current and past restrictions on cannabis since its growth in popularity among countries and citizens in various nations.

There are also long-lasting impacts for those convicted in the USA, from housing and job applications or even education access. Thousands of people across the USA and Canada have suffered the harsh ridicule of participating in what is, hopefully, a soon-to-be legalized plant globally. Decriminalization helps guide us to an equal and equitable society for BIPOC people to have the just chance to participate in changing their storyline in cannabis reform.

The first international level of shame against cannabis truly kicked off in the 1930s. During the first few years of prohibition, over half of the cannabis arrests were cannabis related. Looking back at the intentions of criminalizing cannabis, one can see how black and Mexican individuals were the main targets of these new laws in 1970 when Nixon declared cannabis "public enemy #1" and started the war on drugs. Racial injustice was an underlying intention of the Nixon administration. Even his advisor John Ehrlichman said, "[Nixon] had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people. Do you understand what I'm saying? We knew we couldn't make it illegal to… disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did."

Canada’s Statistics on Cannabis Arrests

After the massive propaganda push from the USA, many countries followed their lead to criminalize cannabis and punish its users. In fact, in the same decade, Canada also made cannabis illegal and began targeting indigenous peoples more harshly. Last year, Vice reported that from 2015-2021 Indigenous people in Vancouver were eight times more likely to be arrested for possession, despite being 2.5% of the city's population (and a cannabis advocacy hub).

In other Canadian cities like Regina, Saskatchewan, indigenous or Metis peoples accounted for 53% of possession arrests despite making up 9% of the city's population - almost 9% higher than Caucasians.

Racial Injustice in America

In jurisdictions where cannabis is legal, studies demonstrate that racial differences in arrest rates are still very present. This attitude reinforces not only institutional racism but also has terrible implications for individuals and families. It's crucial to note that racial discrimination concerning cannabis is not directly linked to one group or race of individuals in North America. According to The Sentencing Project captured by US News, African Americans and Latino Americans have a higher incarceration rate, as seen in the table below.

Here are some other supporting statistics on what we know:

African Americans are four times as likely to be arrested for possession in the USA as white people, even though both racial groups consume at a similar rate.
In New York City, 94% of cannabis-related arrests in 2020 were BIPOC individuals.
According to American Civil Liberties Union's 2020 analysis, in every state in America, black people are more likely to be arrested on cannabis charges. Some areas reach upwards to ten times more likely.
In a survey of 31 states, racial prejudice for cannabis-related charges was higher in 2018 compared to 2010.

Where do these arrest statistics leave us?

While it's easy to be stuck on the opposing end of statistics, there are some areas to celebrate the progress of cannabis legalization and decriminalization. Consider the table below. In some states like Texas, arrests are decreasing as more states move toward legalizing and decriminalizing.

Many people impacted by cannabis injustice have beneficial organizations like the Last Prisoner Project, which has helped over 100 people receive pro bono legal help. Advocacy associations like the Last Prisoner Project work tirelessly to change legislation and bring justice to those affected.

As the world moves towards cannabis legalization, we must prioritize decriminalization and drug reform to ensure everyone can benefit from this growing industry. Even countries with traditionally conservative views on cannabis, like South Korea, Japan, and New Zealand, recognize the need for change. It is up to all of us to continue pushing for progress and working toward a more equitable and just future.

Black History Month: Racial Profiling and Cannabis Arrests