As Social Disruptions Roil an Election Year, Policymakers Consider Cannabis and Racial Inequality
August 16, 2020Oklahoma Case Study: Market Sizing and Underreporting of Cannabis Usage (Full Article)
August 23, 2020
- Despite a dramatic nationwide increase in the use and acceptance of cannabis, both federal and state policies have been slow to address long-standing inequities in cannabis regulation.
- Despite 26 million regular cannabis consumers in the U.S. (and 70% of adults reporting cannabis use as morally acceptable), prohibition enforcement continues apace, with over 600,000 annual arrests for cannabis-related offenses.
- Nationally, Blacks are nearly 4x more likely to be arrested as suspects than are Whites.
- Even as total arrests fall drastically in states legalizing adult use (e.g., more than 90% in Colorado) disparities in cannabis-related arrests persist.
- Post-legalization, challenges remain in ensuring equitable participation in the industry.
- Critical lack of access to bank loans means that Black households (which average a net worth 10x lower than that of respective White households) are far less likely to fund business opportunities in the industry.
