On this edition of Your Call: Now that marijuana is legal in California, who will benefit? And how will racially biased drug laws change?
Oakland’s equity permit program gives first dibs on getting a license to sell to people who’ve been convicted of marijuana-related crimes. San Francisco’s district attorney is dismissing misdemeanor convictions for marijuana possession dating back 40 years. Thousands of people will have their criminal records cleared. What’s happening in other cities? From the fields of Mendocino to the streets of the Bay Area, who will benefit from legalization -- and who will be shut out?
Guests:
Reese Benton, founder of the Posh Green Collective
Rodney Holcombe, legal fellow with the Drug Policy Alliance’s office of legal affairs
Darlene Flynn, director of the city of Oakland’s Department of Race and Equity
Greg Minor, assistant to Oakland's City Administrator
Web Resources:
Rolling Stone: Can Oakland help solve the weed industry's diversity problem?
Pacific Standard: How California is leading the way on marijuana criminal justice reform
City of Oakland Cannabis Permits