Ending Cannabis Criminalization Is Police Reform

Today, members of the House Judiciary Committee marked up the Justice in Policing Act, which seeks to amend federal guidance over certain law enforcement activities.  Many of the bill’s components are steps in a positive direction, such as banning “No-Knock” drug raids by law enforcement. This is a recommendation that many on NORML’s Legal Committee have long advocated for, as the proliferation of these raids have often led to tragic results. But while lawmakers focus largely on police behaviors, we at NORML also wish to raise questions about police powers. Over the years, law enforcement in this country have been granted extraordinary powers — powers that often provide them with the ability to interact with citizens whenever and wherever they please. In many cases, the rationale for these ever-expanding police powers has been to enforce the so-called war on drugs.  In fact, one of the most common pretexts provided by police for interacting with citizens is that they suspect that someone has either used or is in possession of marijuana. That is why, during these hearings, Rep. Lou Correa has wisely suggested the need to amend federal anti-marijuana laws should go hand-in-hand with reforming policing. Tell your Representative that it is inexcusable that the House has yet to advance legislation to end marijuana prohibition.  Speaking recently with Georgetown Law Professor Paul Butler, Rep. Correa recently asked, “How do you think that the legalization of cannabis would help for social justice in this nation?” Professor Butler’s answer was instructive. “We think…

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