About the program: Despite the (semi-)legalization of marijuana in the District, its use—or even suspected use—can still trigger legal consequences, especially for people with criminal records. People on supervised release who legally use marijuana in D.C. can find themselves violating the terms of their supervision, re-arrested, fired from their jobs, or unable to find a new job, all of which are grounds for re-incarceration. The Metropolitan Police Department continues to use drug-sniffing dogs that are trained to find marijuana and continues to disproportionately arrest Black people for marijuana related offenses. People with drug and other convictions are prohibited from participating in D.C.’s medical marijuana industry, excluding people who were targeted by the War on Drugs from participating in the prosperity of the now-legal cannabis industry. With Congress poised to remove its anti-marijuana rider in the FY22 budget, D.C. may soon have the opportunity to clarify its hazy laws. This virtual forum will feature a moderated discussion among local experts parsing through the nuances of marijuana law and policy in D.C., the risks and barriers it poses to people with criminal records, and the opportunities to transform our system moving forward.
Panelists included:
• Queen Adesuyi, Drug Policy Alliance
• Corey Barnette, Kinfolk Dispensary and District Growers LLC
• David Grosso, former D.C. Council Member and Arent Fox
• Emily Gunston, D.C. Office of the Attorney General
• Crystal Marshall, Community Family Life Services Speakers Bureau
The event was moderated by Martin Austermuhle, WAMU 88.5.
