The history of cannabis in America is deeply intertwined with that of Black Americans. From the demonization and prohibition of the plant in the early part of the 20th century to Richard Nixon’s war on drugs and President Reagan’s expansion of that war, racism against Black people has been at the forefront of marijuana’s legacy. Marijuana is now legal in many places but Black Americans are still more than three times more likely to be arrested for a non-violent cannabis crime than White Americans. We’re looking at the present and future of equity in marijuana culture with David Downs. He’s a Senior Editor at Leafly.
