ACLU Exposes Racial Profiling During Marijuana Arrests
According to national findings reported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), African Americans are four times more likely than Caucasians to face charges for marijuana use. The ACLU believes that this is proof of racial profiling because African Americans and Caucasians use marijuana about equally. As reported by The Los Angeles Times, the study took into account California arrest records from 2001 through 2010. The report did not consider arrests after California decriminalized possession of 28.5 grams or less of marijuana.
Unfortunately, the arrest rate for African Americans appears to be on the rise. While the marijuana arrest rates for Caucasians have remained consistent, the arrest rate for African Americans rose from 537 cases per 100,000 people in the year 2001 to 716 per 100,000 in 2010. With regard to California, African Americans make up just over 16 percent of marijuana arrests while only making up only 6.7 percent of the population…
