Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, wars are costly, and the war on marijuana is no exception. This war has derailed lives. It has led to lost jobs and housing. It has torn families apart. The cost of the war on marijuana has disproportionately fallen on the backs of Blacks and Latino people. As White entrepreneurs across the country support their families by running businesses selling marijuana, many Black and Latino people are spending time behind bars and criminalized for doing the same. In Rhode Island, a Black person was 3.3 times more likely to be arrested for possessing marijuana than a White person in 2018, even though Black and White people use marijuana at similar rates. Immigrants have been deported simply for using marijuana in States that permit its use and despite never being convicted of a crime. Targeting low-level marijuana-related offenders with harsh penalties has done little to make our communities safer. The MORE Act ends the criminalization of marijuana. It protects the 36 States, including Rhode Island, that have led the way on marijuana policy and legalized it for medicinal purposes. People convicted of marijuana-related charges are often denied access to social programs or even the ability to take out student loans to further their education and careers. The MORE Act helps fix that. This legislation redirects resources away from prosecution of marijuana and toward community investments and public health solutions.…”