Cory Booker, a senator from New Jersey, says that to address the gun violence epidemic in the United States requires an understanding of “root problems”, which are “correlatives of violence”. These include poverty and housing security issues as well as mass incarceration due to discriminatory marijuana criminalization.
The senator stated that the discussion around gun violence prevention does not take into consideration the laws and policy that “create an environment where violence is proliferated.”
Booker stated that “high lead poisoning, high poverty, inadequate housing, I could go on for hours,” he said. Booker went on to say that the incarceration of people for low-level crimes like possession of cannabis contributes towards poverty and job instability, which can lead to violent environments.
Booker stated, “What frustrates me the most is that cities have too many police officers who are doing things we don’t even need to do. I see kids being arrested for doing the same thing I did at Stanford and Yale when I was there.” They have records and are unable to get jobs due to their arrests on marijuana charges, when presidents and senators brag about using pot.
The senator stated that “what it does to the economy of a city when there is mass incarceration because of low-level, non-violent drugs crimes” was stunning.
Watch Booker explain marijuana criminalization’s effects, starting at 1:56:08 in the video below.
Booker has discussed criminal justice double standards in marijuana enforcement. He often mentions the disparity between the lack of consequences faced by white students who use cannabis at Ivy League schools and the disproportionate arrests of Black and Brown people for the same act.
He used it to advocate more broadly for federal marijuana legalization.
The senator has sponsored comprehensive reform legislation in the past. In this session, he is focused on pushing to include equity-centered provisions into a bipartisan Cannabis Banking Bill, which has passed through a Senate Committee and is now awaiting action on the Senate floor.
Booker has said that he will block any banking reforms before legalization. However, his rhetoric in recent sessions has changed. He now supports incremental reforms as long as they are paired with provisions that address the negative effects of the drug warfare.
The senator said in April that it was “frustrating,” to see the marijuana legalization fail to meet equity goals. He said this is due to federal prohibition. While he is pushing for reform, has notably described cannabis as a “dangerous drug” that has not been studied enough.
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The post Cory Booker Said Marijuana Crime Criminalization is One Of The “Root Problems” Fueling Environments where Gun Violence “Proliferates” first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
