Fight racial disparity by legalizing marijuana: Guest opinion

By Sandeep Kumar on August 16, 2014 at 1:36 PM

Racial disparities tend to exist where one doesn’t expect them. Situations provoke them to appear, and — if we’re willing — we take notice and act. For decades, social justice advocates have referenced the racial disparity in citations and arrests for marijuana. Recently, New York Times editorial board member Jesse Wegman provided empirical evidence that in Oregon, although whites and non-whites use marijuana at comparable rates, non-whites are twice as likely to be arrested or cited compared to whites.

I’m a person of color, and many Oregonians I meet welcome diversity. I wouldn’t have decided to raise a family here, otherwise. Legalizing gay marriage in Oregon was significant. In November, legalizing marijuana presents another opportunity to foster a more diverse and welcoming society.

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/08/fight_racial_discrimination_by.html