US judges should and could immediately end the War on Drugs, because institutional racism creates unequal protections for whites compared to minorities, researchers say. “We think that it is not possible for the State of California to justify the scheme of total marijuana prohibition, because the racism behind marijuana prohibition in the early 1900s is patent, beyond the pale, and totally indefensible, and also because the data analysis presented here on arrests for marijuana offenses shows a disparate impact with regard to the arrests of Blacks and Hispanics,” wrote Florida Atlantic University assistant professor Mirya Holman and Kennesaw State University professor Kenneth Michael White in their paper ‘Marijuana Prohibition in California: Racial Prejudice and Selective Arrests‘ (subscription), published in the academic journal Race, Gender and Class.
San Diego resident protest medical marijuana store raid last week. 
Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske enjoys unequal protections under institutionally racist drug laws, authors argue StoptheDrugWar graphic New York lawmaker Steve Katz received a slap on the wrist for pot possession this year Cannabis, aka marijuana Credits: (courtesy of Kym Kemp)
