PROJECT MENU: INTRO | CRITICISM | MARIJUANA | DRUG DEMAND | CONCLUSION
Nowadays, politicians are starting the conversation about recreational and medical marijuana legalization. Unfortunately, early lawmakers and federal government campaigns spread misinformation on the use of these drugs.
From 2001-2010, there were over 8 million marijuana-use arrests in the United States. Many of these incarcerations fell in low-income and African-American communities where resources were scarce.
Police target poor marginalized communities for low-level drug offenses. This behavior destabilizes communities by ridding families of primary providers (father figures). This destabilization has a domino effect on family’s affected: children suffer in school, gangs are formed, and a higher demand for drugs occur.
Interestingly, economists have proven that limiting access to substances increases the demand for even harmful dosages of similar drugs.
Image Sources
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