2023 marks 50 years of mass incarceration in America. Today, almost 2 million individuals – disproportionately Black Americans – are incarcerated in our nation’s prisons and jails – a 500% increase since 1973.
This mass incarceration crisis can be largely attributed to the so-called “War on Drugs,” especially the war on cannabis. The implementation of harsh sentencing laws has resulted in a significant increase in the number of people incarcerated for drug-related offenses. Non-violent drug offenders, many of whom were struggling with addiction, have been subjected to lengthy prison sentences that fail to address the root causes of drug addiction and offer limited opportunities for rehabilitation.
After 50 years of mass cannabis incarceration - and over 25 million cannabis arrests – the “War on Drugs” continues to inflict unnecessary harm. Millions of Americans have been sent to prison, separated from their families, and denied opportunities - all because of nonviolent cannabis offenses.
Read Full Article »