Only one in 4 Republicans agree that folks of coloration are unfairly punished over marijuana, regardless of knowledge persistently exhibiting that Black and Hispanic persons are disproportionately arrested over hashish in comparison with white folks, based on a brand new ballot.
It’s a major discovering, particularly given how generally research and reviews about racial discrimination in hashish enforcement are cited to assist efforts to enact marijuana reform. The survey additionally reveals that the message apparently isn’t getting by means of to sizable parts of Democrats and independents, both, although they’re much more prone to acknowledge disparities than GOP voters are.
General, 52 p.c of People agreed strongly or considerably with the concept “folks of coloration are unfairly punished for possession of marijuana in comparison with white folks,” the survey from Knowledge for Progress discovered.
Democrats have been most definitely to agree with the concept, at 77 p.c, together with 54 p.c who mentioned they strongly agreed. Fifty-seven p.c of independents suppose the identical. However simply 24 p.c of Republicans agreed, together with solely 11 p.c who strongly agreed.
Through Knowledge for Progress.
A plurality of white folks (48 p.c) imagine folks of coloration are unfairly punished. However minority respondents themselves are much more prone to agree with the sentiment, with 72 p.c of Black folks and 64 p.c of Hispanic folks saying that’s the case.
A majority of individuals beneath 45 (65 p.c) mentioned minorities have been unfairly punished in comparison with white folks over the low-level marijuana offense, versus 45 p.c of individuals over 45.
“With solely half of People acknowledging the fact that criminalization is enforced in a racially disparate means, clearly extra work is required by advocates and elected leaders to coach the general public,” Justin Strekal, founding father of the BOWL PAC, instructed Marijuana Second. “Given the partisan divide, now could be the time for Republican leaders to talk up or be defeated by somebody who will.”
(Disclosure: Strekal helps Marijuana Second’s work by means of a monthly pledge on Patreon.)
One of the vital broadly cited reviews on racial disparities in hashish criminalization comes from the ACLU, which discovered that Black persons are about four times more likely to be arrested over marijuana possession in comparison with white folks, regardless of charges of consumption being roughly the identical.
It’s additionally a proven fact that the conflict on medication within the U.S. was largely precipitated out of racial animus, with an aide to President Richard Nixon admitting that the administration sought to affiliate Black folks and political enemies with medication as a way to advance their agendas. That was referenced in a congressional resolution introduced in 2018.
Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Museum lately acknowledged how “racial, ethnic and sophistication prejudice” have been foundational principles of the drug war that partly led to the company’s personal founding.
The Library of Congress has documented how racist and stigmatizing media depictions of marijuana have been used to strengthen prohibition, for instance.
Nationwide Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director Nora Volkow individually mentioned final 12 months that analysis has firmly demonstrated that drug criminalization has disproportionately impacted communities of color.
President Joe Biden has additionally talked about racial disparities in hashish enforcement, together with final week when he issued a proclamation pardoning Americans who’ve committed federal marijuana possession offenses.
The U.S. Sentencing Fee (USCC) has since broken down the demographics of those impacted. And whereas Black folks symbolize about 12 p.c of the U.S. inhabitants and utilization charges are comparable between races, the group accounted for twenty-four p.c of the federal possession circumstances. White folks, against this, symbolize 58 p.c of the nationwide inhabitants however solely accounted for 41 p.c of these pardoned beneath the president’s proclamation.
The brand new Knowledge for Progress poll concerned interviews with 1,220 probably voters from October 7-11, with a +/-3 proportion level margin of error.
The survey additionally discovered that almost all of People again Biden’s hashish pardons transfer, at 72 p.c. That features a majority of probably Republican voters (55 p.c).
NEW POLL: After Biden’s announcement that he would pardon all federal offenses of easy marijuana possession, 72 p.c of voters assist the choice — together with majorities of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans.https://t.co/Enl7w81U9o
— Knowledge for Progress (@DataProgress) October 14, 2022
A number of prior surveys performed and revealed this previous week have additionally requested People a couple of how they really feel about Biden’s marijuana clemency motion, and so they’ve persistently proven that people are in favor of the decision.
One more new ballot on the subject, from CivicScience, confirmed 67 p.c of respondents strongly or considerably again Biden’s pardon motion, whereas a survey from YouGov discovered that 62 p.c of People assist the transfer.
By a margin of 62% to 25%, most People approve of Biden’s federal pardons of these convicted of marijuana possession.
Democrats: 78% approve
Independents: 59%
Republicans: 44%https://t.co/ySE97Z7MvK pic.twitter.com/0L8MdIFYi4— YouGov America (@YouGovAmerica) October 14, 2022
Per prior surveys, Knowledge for Progress, in its ballot, additionally discovered that an amazing majority (80 p.c) don’t imagine that hashish must be in Schedule I of the Managed Substances Act (CSA) alongside medication like heroin. That features Democrats (88 p.c), independents (82 p.c) and Republicans (70 p.c).
Through Knowledge for Progress.
All three of the most recent polls additionally requested folks whether or not they assist legalizing marijuana general, and every confirmed majority assist for the reform. Knowledge for Progress confirmed assist at 66 p.c, CivicScience discovered 70 p.c need hashish authorized of their state and YouGov confirmed 55 p.c backing the reform.
Pardoning previous offenses and clearing data are standard, however legalizing marijuana use is barely extra divisive. A smaller majority general is in favor (55%), with Democrats (66%) and Independents (56%) extra prone to assist legalization than Republicans (41%). pic.twitter.com/vC98nChAMZ
— YouGov America (@YouGovAmerica) October 13, 2022
Knowledge for Progress additionally confirmed {that a} majority of People (67 p.c) throughout the political spectrum imagine that no one must be in jail over hashish, and 63 p.c mentioned marijuana must be authorized in all states.
Through Knowledge for Progress.
The group additionally discovered that 63 p.c of respondents imagine marijuana must be safer within the U.S. if was authorized. One other 64 p.c mentioned that hashish has constructive well being results. And 71 p.c mentioned legalization would generate tax income that may profit society.
CivicScience individually requested individuals who answered the query about their stance about Biden’s pardon motion about their cable information preferences. Individuals who mentioned they watch Fox Information have been the least prone to assist the hashish clemency at 32 p.c, in comparison with 93 p.c who mentioned they watch MSNBC and 87 p.c who watch CNN.
Two-thirds of CNN and MSNBC viewers maintain a ‘very constructive’ view of President Biden’s determination to pardon 1000’s of People convicted of federal marijuana possession, whereas 11% of Fox Information viewers say the identical. Learn extra right here ➡️ https://t.co/xTkvlB6fs2 pic.twitter.com/yATlrkFofY
— CivicScience (@CivicScience) October 13, 2022
That agency moreover requested respondents if “U.S. marijuana coverage must be kind of forgiving than President Biden’s determination to pardon 1000’s of People convicted of easy possession beneath federal legislation.”
Forty-four p.c mentioned it must be extra forgiving, 27 p.c mentioned it must be much less forgiving and 29 p.c mentioned that it’s appropriately forgiving as it’s.
YouGov additionally surveyed respondents about their very own private expertise with hashish. It discovered that half of People say they’ve not less than tried marijuana.
In the meantime, Vice President Kamala Harris mentioned on Monday that voters ought to elect lawmakers who assist marijuana reform in order that Congress can enact a “uniform method” to the difficulty in light of the president’s cannabis pardons.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) mentioned that he appreciates the “vital” step that the president has taken, but there’s “more that we can do” to handle the drug conflict and he’s “very hopeful” that further reform might be enacted earlier than the top of this Congress.
Whereas the senator mentioned that he does imagine legalization may go, the expectation is that Congress will work to advance a package of incremental marijuana reform proposals that features banking and analysis laws throughout the lame duck session.
A number of Cupboard-level officers have celebrated Biden’s cannabis reform actions, together with the heads of the White Home Workplace of Nationwide Drug Management Coverage (ONDCP) and Division of Labor.
Michigan Marijuana Sales Hit Another Record In September, Reaching $212 Million
Picture courtesy of Chris Wallis/Aspect Pocket Photographs.
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