Today is April 20, 2010, also known as 4⁄20. Many consider today an unofficial holiday: National Marijuana Day.
Since today is 4⁄20, the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ) thought no other day would be more appropriate to educate people on the fiscal and legal implications of legalizing marijuana in California. CJCJ is in no way advocating for the use of non-medicinal marijuana, however, I feel it is critical to be fully informed on the matter. As part of our various public education efforts, CJCJ has released numerous publications on the topic, including audio, video, and text files.
Listen to CJCJ’s newest three-minute broadcast featuring San Francisco’s Reentry Commissioner and Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice Program Director Gerald Miller discussing the misconceptions of legalizing marijuana, the trends marijuana arrest rates have taken in the last twenty years, and some of the implications of legalizing marijuana.
Watch Exectuive Director Daniel Macallair’s testimony to the Assembly Public Safety Committee. Mr. Macallair’s presentation focused on marijuana arrest rates including demographic trends, imprisonment rates, and disparities between arrest rates within California counties.
Lastly, read reports and articles covering this issue; check out CJCJ’s “Marijuana Arrests and California’s Drug War” and other links in the news featuring our research:
~ “Advocates for legal pot say time’s right in state” — Ventura County Star
~ “Pot acceptable? Not for young and nonwhite” — CNN
~ “Making War on the Drug War” — California Progress Report
~ “California Cops Turn Focus to Making Marijuana Arrests” — Marijuana Policy Project
~ “Historic Hearing on Marijuana Legalization in the California Legislature” — Drug War Chronicle
~ “The racism of marijuana prohibition” — Los Angeles Times
~ “Chronic debate The Drug Issue: Marijuana decriminalization moves forward on several fronts” — San Francisco Bay Guardian