The State Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is endorsing a ballot initiative for this November to legalize and tax recreational marijuana use. In addition, a recent poll suggests that Californians support the measure as well.
In the latest USC College/Los Angeles Times Poll, 49 percent of registered voters said they support the measure, which would allow people aged 21 and over to possess, cultivate and transport marijuana for personal use, and also allow local governments to regulate and tax marijuana consumption. Forty-one percent of registered voters oppose the measure.
NAACP State President, Alice Huffman, said the organization is backing the initiative, to counter marijuana arrest rates.
She contends that it unfairly targets African Americans and other minorities.
From a recent published article, Huffman states: "There is a strong racial component that must be considered when we investigate how marijuana laws are applied to people of color," she said. "The burden has fallen disproportionately on people of color and young Black men in particular."
A Sacramento preacher whose organization represents 3,600 congregations said he was outraged that the California chapter of the NAACP has endorsed an initiative that would legalize recreational use of marijuana.
He said most African-American pastors are upset by the NAACP decision because of the negative impact drugs have had on the Black community.
If approved, the measure would allow people 21 and older to legally possess an ounce of cannabis. Marijuana sales would be taxed, potentially raising billions of dollars for government services.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: BlackVoiceNews.com
Copyright: 2010 BlackVoiceNews.com
* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article
In the latest USC College/Los Angeles Times Poll, 49 percent of registered voters said they support the measure, which would allow people aged 21 and over to possess, cultivate and transport marijuana for personal use, and also allow local governments to regulate and tax marijuana consumption. Forty-one percent of registered voters oppose the measure.
NAACP State President, Alice Huffman, said the organization is backing the initiative, to counter marijuana arrest rates.
She contends that it unfairly targets African Americans and other minorities.
From a recent published article, Huffman states: "There is a strong racial component that must be considered when we investigate how marijuana laws are applied to people of color," she said. "The burden has fallen disproportionately on people of color and young Black men in particular."
A Sacramento preacher whose organization represents 3,600 congregations said he was outraged that the California chapter of the NAACP has endorsed an initiative that would legalize recreational use of marijuana.
He said most African-American pastors are upset by the NAACP decision because of the negative impact drugs have had on the Black community.
If approved, the measure would allow people 21 and older to legally possess an ounce of cannabis. Marijuana sales would be taxed, potentially raising billions of dollars for government services.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: BlackVoiceNews.com
Copyright: 2010 BlackVoiceNews.com
* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article
