My uncle’s friend spent twenty years in prison (not jail) for a joint.
Currently, there are people still sitting in prisons, in southern states (like Alabama or Idaho), for shitty, seedy pot that probably didn’t get them high in the first place. And, even in our weed-legal state of Oregon, it’s technically a jail-able offense to give medical-only consumables to non-medical (also known as "recreational") cannabis users. Weed isn’t "legal," any more than the market is "free." Yes, people are trading cannabis shares on the stock exchange, but as far as the teens who got pulled over on suspicion for being black in Utah (who are now doing time for a few grams of hash oil), well...never mind them, right? In fact, bringing race into things actually works here—because, what is happening to cannabis is the same thing that happened to gangster rap. Years ago, N.W.A. was jailed for performing "Fuck Tha Police," but these days, you can get cute, pink, Ice Cube babydoll tank tops, complete with "Fuck Tha Police" in beautiful, white girl Snapchat fonts.
To put it bluntly (sorry), cannabis legalization has shed light on the elephant in the room...that being a class war, in which those on the bottom are rotting in prison for the same thing that those on the top are becoming millionaires doing.
Down in Humboldt County—weed capitol of the world—a rapper named Garth Cultivator has discovered that it’s actually cheaper and more cost-and-time-effective to grow and sell pot illegally, than it is to obtain all the necessary licensing and fees required to start a "legal grow." Basically, if you sell a few ounces—in front of a cop—you’re not going to end up with anything more than a ticket or a few weeks in jail, tops. But, if you apply for a legal grow license, good luck raising the $100,000 or so that it takes to be on the up-and-up in the eyes of the law. Otherwise, you’re going into the clink for all sorts of shit, from tax evasion to illegal processing of (whatever legal terminology they’re using these days to make pot sound like pharmaceutical-grade opiates). Cultivator has taken to social media (and the recording studio) with the #BlackMarketsMatter hashtag, and while it may seem like just a fun play on words, it’s actually turning into a legitimate cause—generations of weed growers—many of whom are actually indigenous to the land on which they’re growing—are finding it impossible to be compliant with the new cannabis regulations. "But, it’s just a plant, why is it illegal?" is a valid argument, but then again, hops is just a plant and good luck opening a bar without paying out the ass in fees and liability.
Meanwhile, eight hours in any direction of Humboldt County, CA (San Francisco, Portland, Vegas, etc.), huge companies are holding cannabis conventions, advertising their ultra-supreme, vegan, organic, disposable and extremely expensive dab pens on billboards. Remember when dispensaries were basically trap houses with a decent lock on the front door and a clean counter top? Not anymore—we’re talking Nordstrom, minus the clothes, add fifty jars of connoisseur cannabis (don’t call it "weed," you uncultured swine) and a sign that says "We Take Visa, Mastercard And Tax Returns." And, if you can’t catch a Lyft to Green Holistic Designer Remedy Solutions, just order an ounce from their website and get it delivered to your front door.
Twenty years for a joint, kids.
Discussions have come up regarding "reparations" for those imprisoned for cannabis crimes, which would basically involve the dismissal of charges and possible repayment of fines. But, even that has seemed to either turn into a useless debate ("what about [insert any group that is also being fucked over by the system here, and, no, I’m not talking slaves, but more like white chicks who feel underpaid at their office jobs]?") or gone completely ignored. For some reason, if two monks in the middle of Tibet are arrested for not wearing shoes or whatever, it makes the front page of CNN’s website. Yet, if you’re reading this, you’re no farther away than 500 miles from an institution that is currently housing weed felons—many of whom have never even seen more than an ounce of pot, let alone bought one after they saw a sign-waver spin a display board that reads "$42 OUNCES NEXT RIGHT."
Why is it, that once something becomes legal/accepted/tolerated/etc., society just soaks up the benefits and ignores those who still suffer the consequences of the previously established shitty laws/attitudes/morals/etc., as if consumer cannabis makes up for everyone living in a cell, simply because they sold a dime bag or hit a blunt in front of an undercover officer at a concert? The unaddressed issues surrounding cannabis legalization mirror those of the LGBT struggle, particularly the corporate takeover of Pride. Anyone with half a heart and a basic knowledge of predatory capitalism understands that the tire store isn’t waving a rainbow flag during June because they want their gay mechanic to feel accepted (and, he’s still in the closet, by the way, thanks to the jokes that the guys at the counter make), but, rather, they’re doing it because they want that sweet, sweet rainbow money. Is it cool that acceptance is becoming mainstream? Sure. But, to the upper class, it’s about accepting someone’s credit card, not orientation—especially when same-sex couples are statistically less likely to have children and, thus, their disposable income is taken from them via companies who pander to their struggle. Same shit with weed. If your "top shelf consumer cannabis products" come complete with bar codes and cute logos, but you don’t donate to legal funds designed to assist cannabis criminals, then you’re just as bad as the "Sleazy Rick’s Payday Loans Are Now Gayday Loans For June!" advertisement.
I have neither the skill, nor the sobriety, needed to find legitimate services that help funnel cannabis money into good charities, so do me a favor and do your own research. But, the research that I was able to do, regarding where Oregon’s weed tax dollars are going, resulted in me learning that the majority of tax revenue generated by Oregon sales went to...drumroll, please...cops and schools. Shout out to anyone still sitting in jail for selling an eighth in a school zone.
But, hey, did you know that you can get CBD ice cream delivered to your gated community?
