Expensive Editor,
As numerous Payments aimed to legalize marijuana proceed to wind by way of the legislative course of within the 2022 Virginia Normal Meeting, for a lot of Black households, leaders, voters, and impacted communities throughout the state all of it seems to be simply one other plate of warmed-over grits — horrible for our communities!
To the misery of Black leaders, voters, clergy, and congregations throughout Virginia, efforts to legalize marijuana by Normal Meeting legislators proceed on a much-too-fast trajectory. This trajectory apparently is being pushed by trade big-wigs and entrenched state politicians in the identical methods as was the case in different states which have already legalized marijuana.
Curiously, current research and nationwide information stories clearly point out a close to shutout from the authorized marijuana trade of Black communities, entrepreneurs, and traders. It seems the actions of marijuana trade insiders and Virginia legislators might as soon as once more relegate Black and different impacted communities solely to roles because the «mules» of this new trade, however now as patrons paying 25-30% in marijuana taxes when legally buying these merchandise.
With billions and billions in anticipated state tax revenues in a single vein and substantial earnings made by enterprise homeowners – who’re already poised to dominate the trade – in one other, Virginia’s proposed laws is poor in key areas. Obviously scant are wanted particulars requiring the sharing of billions in marijuana-related tax revenues and TRUE fairness for Black and different considerably impacted communities statewide. As a aspect be aware, impacted communities don’t typically imply rural communities which have richly benefitted from the jail constructing sprees that occurred throughout the Allen, Gilmore, and different administrations. See: Up The Ridge Documentary
Many are aware of how in 1999 legislators rightfully assisted tobacco farmers by forming the Virginia Tobacco Regional Revitalization Fee, to immediately support impacted tobacco farmers and communities after their livelihoods have been drastically impacted by new Federal restrictions on the tobacco trade.
Extra not too long ago, Virginia is now set to obtain over $500 million {dollars} ensuing from lawsuits associated to the opioid disaster and scandals. It seems this windfall may even be used to assist individuals and communities that have been devastated probably the most by the opioid epidemic.
Given these two obvious conditions and the resultant actions by Virginia legislators, many overwhelmingly really feel marijuana-related tax revenues (80% of such) ought to primarily be used to assist treatment the injury carried out within the city communities most adversely impacted by Virginia’s disparate enforcement of marijuana-related legal guidelines.
Will Virginia now do the precise factor with marijuana-related tax revenues and different key elements of the authorized marijuana trade? The jury remains to be out with the ultimate end result now within the fingers of legislators all of us elect.
Vital issues about legalization which are but to be answered by trade insiders, legislators, and Youngkin Administration officers embody:
-How will the BILLIONS in new marijuana-related tax revenues be used immediately — and as decided by impacted individuals and group leaders — to assist restore the various damaged lives, households, communities, and establishments ensuing from Virginia’s very focused legal guidelines and its Warfare on Medication?
-As a result of the cultivation of marijuana by Virginia regulation has been unlawful, how will new legal guidelines distinctly, very clearly, and totally enable potential Black, different entrepreneurs, and traders ample alternatives to achieve the technical information wanted concerning the intricate elements of cultivating high-quality marijuana that might be offered to customers?
-As NOT to repeat the failures by different states which have legalized marijuana, how will trade insiders and Virginia legislators MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE, by regulation, Black entrepreneurs and traders are actually included on this new trade, reasonably than by any hoped-for-grace and mercy of trade insiders and medical marijuana operators?
-How can any legislator really feel they will’t pinpoint sure teams for positive aspects through new marijuana legal guidelines when earlier marijuana legal guidelines have
enabled the concentrating on of sure teams for the harshest of arrests, prosecutions, and punishment? Legislators routinely train huge creativity in crafting standards that profit or drawback sure teams. Pleas that «our fingers are tied» with respect to this specific laws strains credulity.
Many precisely query how at the moment’s legislators usually are not now in a position to assist rectify previous legislative errors that devastated so many households, residents, and significantly city communities. Such previous legislative errors that may lastly be rectified in methods WITHOUT the usage of any cash from Virginia’s revenue tax receipts.
Whether or not one is a full believer or nonetheless an ardent Doubting Thomas, the legalization of marijuana in Virginia CAN be an enormous win-win for ALL Virginians, however ONLY IF carried out in the precise methods.
The time has come to take a position the «manna from the heavens» produced by Virginia’s new marijuana trade in ways in which enhance the lives of many Virginians who need assistance probably the most. his doing likewise.
Dr. Lester Frye
First Vice President
Baptist Ministers Convention of Richmond and Neighborhood
Central Virginia
Jonathan Davis
President
Richmond Campaign for Voters
Central Virginia
Kelvin Manurs
Returning Citizen Advocate & State Licensed Peer Restoration Coach
Northern Virginia
