Anyone knows about it. It can take different names: Mary Jane, Weed, Pot… but no matter the name you give it to this substance, we have to talk about it in order to have the right information and being well informed. Talking about Mary Jane is a community engagement forum created to jump support conversations about marijuana legalization in New York State.
On April 29th 2019, I attended with my mentor and CEO of AlizéLaVie Media Alizé Utteryn a conversation about Advocacy, Governance and Commerce of Marijuana. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss publicly and share diverse experiences to raise awareness about the use of this substance. We had the pleasure to listen to some testimonies about marijuana’s experiences. Different speakers intervened such as Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Dr. Kirk A. James, Mandia Glover and Noal Potter, Esq. but also the New York Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
Lot of people know Marijuana because it has been for ever a part of our community. From this point, each person has different experiences good or bad but it all depends on the use. This drug already in use for medicinal, spiritual and/or recreational ones. Nowadays, government gets ready to legalize Marijuana for recreational use while it is already use for medicinal properties. Nevertheless, there is a stigma around the subject of Marijuana, that’s why, this meeting is a huge opportunity to know more about this new Cash industry which is a very sensitive issue.
During the forum we had the possibilities to understand what people lived before legalization. Indeed, testimonies shown that Marijuana was constantly everywhere around them. They lived with it at the expense of a job. One of the spokesperson said that he wanted to get a job but unfortunately he knew that nobody would work with him because he was a black person and he smoked Mary Jane. His professional career was trouble and as he explained Mary Jane was easier to use. You can sell it quickly and earn money. However, sell weed includes risks of landing straight to jail. One day he was coming back from his job while smoking joint when police arrested him. He told us how shocked he was the way he was so badly treated. They abused him with their authority, threw him in the truck while insulting him in front of the community. The humiliation and discrimination were at its height. Since then, the trauma persist.
Additionally, we can say many residents from the community face criminal charges to its use. Sometimes they are victim and even killed. Unfortunately discrimination against black men is still predominant. Marijuana’s use is cause of black people being in jail (the highest rate compared to others felony). However no matter reason Black people are more likely to be shot and killed by police than their white peers. So they risk their lives even more when they sell weed. Another man father of 5 children reinforced the statement of black men being mistreated once they got caught smoking. There are huge racial disparities in how US police use force. There are huge racial disparities in how US police use force.
He said he has become paranoid and is scared for his children they are traumatized by just seeing the police uniform. They don’t feel this way not just because of their father’s experience but what they also see on the TV : Trayvon Martin, MIckael brown’s killing and so forth. He doesn’t feel safe in streets for him and his children.
On the other hand the use of Marijuana can be beneficial for health issue, medicine purpose. A good use is not harmful. But it is like everything you have to find a balance.
Finally legalizing Mary Jane will have positive effects in many aspects for example on reducing Black people rate in jail but also for the global economy. It is a huge industry and profitable market. For the community especially black people they can take advantage of it by turning into legitimate business (how to get a license?) and make money without trouble. It will require to use their entrepreneurship and leadership skills to empower their own people.
It is worth noting that a special program will be implemented by 2020 to keep Brooklyn safe from violence and provide equity.
By Isa LEMEE
