SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — As voters in more states vote to legalize marijuana for recreational use, there’s now a push at the federal level to decriminalize. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey is leading the charge.
No longer should marijuana be in the same category as more dangerous drugs like heroin, says Booker. No longer should someone's life be destroyed because they were caught with a small amount of weed.
"This is not a war on drugs. It's a war on people — and certain people. Veterans are disproportionately arrested for possession of marijuana. Low-income people disproportionately arrested. People with mental health challenges disproportionately arrested. And of course, ... Black and brown communities are targeted," Booker said Wednesday, standing with fellow Democrat, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Booker says there are two priorities: to give the people what they want, and restorative justice to help communities of color.
"It’s not just about creating an environment where states are legalizing. It’s about restorative justice, and that’s a number of things. That’s, one: making sure that we expunge records. Don’t talk about free adult use of marijuana without talking about expunging records. Number two: the tax money. This is going to be a multi-billion dollar business."
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He says the money should be used to uplift and help communities of color that for too long were disproportionately affected by the failed war on drugs. And small businesses should be given a chance to thrive in this budding industry, he said.
New Jersey has already wiped records clean for 88,000 people, and hundreds of thousands more are eligible in the state.