7greeneyes
MedicalNLovingIt!
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url: h??p://www.examiner.com/drug-policy-in-national/seattle-mayor-calls-on-his-state-to-legalize-marijuana
This is good stuff. We need more politicians with gumpshion like this...
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Seattle Mayor Says Time To Legalize Marijuana
This is good stuff. We need more politicians with gumpshion like this...
________________________________________________________________
Seattle Mayor Says Time To Legalize Marijuana
During his State of the City address in City Council Chambers on Tuesday, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn plainly made his feelings known about the War on Drugs and efforts to legalize marijuana in the Evergreen state [h/t Jon Walker]:
McGinns city actually makes for an interesting case study. Fascinating research published in 2003 by University of Washington professor Katherine Beckett shows just how perverse drug war enforcement efforts really are.[1] Becketts research focused on the question: 






All the evidence led Beckett to determine that, the majority of those who deliver serious drugs in Seattle are white, and that a much smaller percentage of those who do so are black.




However, according to data from Seattle Police records, arrests for the crime of drug delivery skews heavily toward blacks. Between January 1999 and April 2001, 62.6% of those arrested for delivering drugs were black, while only 19% were white. Its plain to see that blacks were over-represented amongst those arrested for the crime of drug delivery in Seattle.
So what explains this stark disparity in drug delivery arrests? Beckett points to the convergence of several different types of police practices that result in this discrepancy, such as a pre-occupation with targeting cocaine and buy-bust operations none of which Beckett determines to be race-neutral. Most notable though, was the extensive focus by Seattle police on racially heterogeneous open-air drug markets largely frequented by blacks. Becketts research found that law enforcement paid significantly less attention to the outdoor drug markets dominated by white drug users and sellers sometimes with a complete absence of any police activity patrolling white dominated open-air drug markets.
While McGinn certainly deserves applause for his public stance on the War on Drugs, Becketts research shows that the problem goes much deeper than just marijuana legalization. Theres no doubt that legalizing marijuana will be a solid first step on the road toward greater drug policy reform. Its also likely to change attitudes and foster greater support for full drug legalization when the comically absurd claims of drug warriors fail to materialize. 




Looking at recent polling, it seems likely that McGinns home state may be the first to take that step and legalize marijuana. But as Becketts research shows, its imperative to end drug prohibition completely in order to eliminate the ominous enforcement maladies it yields. Legalizing marijuana is just one step in that process one very important step.
Continue reading on Examiner.com Seattle mayor calls on his state to legalize marijuana - National drug policy | Examiner.com h??p://www.examiner.com/drug-policy-in-national/seattle-mayor-calls-on-his-state-to-legalize-marijuana#ixzz1nhEH6oyX
It is time we were honest about the problems we face with the drug trade. Drugs are a source of criminal profit, and that has led to shootings and even murders. Just like we learned in the 1920s with the prohibition of alcohol, prohibition of marijuana is fueling violent activity. We also know today that the drug war fuels a biased incarceration policy. The drug wars victims are predominantly young men of color.
Seattle is the kind of place that isnt afraid to try a different approach. We support safe access to medical marijuana and made enforcement of possession of marijuana for personal purposes our lowest enforcement priority. But weve learned in the past year that with the federal war on drugs still intact, and with our kids still getting gunned down on the streets, we need to do more.


I know every one of the city council members sitting to my left and right believe as I do: its time for this state to legalize marijuana, and stop the violence, stop the incarceration, stop the erosion of civil liberties, and urge the federal government to stop the failed war on drugs.



Mayor McGinn is absolutely right here, and its refreshing to see a politician speak candidly about the true impact and cost of drug prohibition, especially to black Americans.



Seattle is the kind of place that isnt afraid to try a different approach. We support safe access to medical marijuana and made enforcement of possession of marijuana for personal purposes our lowest enforcement priority. But weve learned in the past year that with the federal war on drugs still intact, and with our kids still getting gunned down on the streets, we need to do more.


I know every one of the city council members sitting to my left and right believe as I do: its time for this state to legalize marijuana, and stop the violence, stop the incarceration, stop the erosion of civil liberties, and urge the federal government to stop the failed war on drugs.



McGinns city actually makes for an interesting case study. Fascinating research published in 2003 by University of Washington professor Katherine Beckett shows just how perverse drug war enforcement efforts really are.[1] Becketts research focused on the question: 






...is there a racial disparity between those arrested for delivering cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and ecstasy (MDMA) and the racial composition of those actually delivering these controlled substances in Seattle? Specifically, are blacks over-represented, and whites under-represented, among those arrested for delivery of these substances given the rate at which they appear to actually engage in drug delivery? 






Using results from self-report surveys, Beckett discovered that a substantial majority of serious drug users in Seattle are white, whereas blacks represented a much smaller proportion. Those participating in the surveys indicated that they typically bought drugs from someone of the same race/ethnicity. In fact, survey results taken from individuals participating in a Seattle needle exchange program indicated that they were much more likely to purchase drugs from someone who was white rather than black. Of those surveyed in the exchange program, 51.6% claimed they made their most recent drug purchase from someone who was white, compared to 14.4% who identified making their most recent purchase from someone who was black. 






All the evidence led Beckett to determine that, the majority of those who deliver serious drugs in Seattle are white, and that a much smaller percentage of those who do so are black.




However, according to data from Seattle Police records, arrests for the crime of drug delivery skews heavily toward blacks. Between January 1999 and April 2001, 62.6% of those arrested for delivering drugs were black, while only 19% were white. Its plain to see that blacks were over-represented amongst those arrested for the crime of drug delivery in Seattle.
So what explains this stark disparity in drug delivery arrests? Beckett points to the convergence of several different types of police practices that result in this discrepancy, such as a pre-occupation with targeting cocaine and buy-bust operations none of which Beckett determines to be race-neutral. Most notable though, was the extensive focus by Seattle police on racially heterogeneous open-air drug markets largely frequented by blacks. Becketts research found that law enforcement paid significantly less attention to the outdoor drug markets dominated by white drug users and sellers sometimes with a complete absence of any police activity patrolling white dominated open-air drug markets.
While McGinn certainly deserves applause for his public stance on the War on Drugs, Becketts research shows that the problem goes much deeper than just marijuana legalization. Theres no doubt that legalizing marijuana will be a solid first step on the road toward greater drug policy reform. Its also likely to change attitudes and foster greater support for full drug legalization when the comically absurd claims of drug warriors fail to materialize. 




Looking at recent polling, it seems likely that McGinns home state may be the first to take that step and legalize marijuana. But as Becketts research shows, its imperative to end drug prohibition completely in order to eliminate the ominous enforcement maladies it yields. Legalizing marijuana is just one step in that process one very important step.
Continue reading on Examiner.com Seattle mayor calls on his state to legalize marijuana - National drug policy | Examiner.com h??p://www.examiner.com/drug-policy-in-national/seattle-mayor-calls-on-his-state-to-legalize-marijuana#ixzz1nhEH6oyX