![]() The Democratic Party in Alabama has just launched a “Free Weed” website on 4-20, but sadly you can’t get free weed there. The website was launched to gain publicity and draw attention to the cannabis issues in the state. And it’s working! The website , www.FreeWeedAL.com, says on their page, “It’s time to free Alabamians unfairly ensnared in the criminal justice system. It’s time to free Alabama’s budget from being used to incarcerate people. It’s time we were all free to light up at the end of a long day. It’s time to Free Weed in Alabama.” They point out that Alabama spent $22 Million in 2016 on the enforcement of marijuana possession alone. That much money is enough money to hire 571 school teachers in Alabama, or get 8,600 children covered by Medicaid. The site also raises awareness that despite basically equal usage rates, Black people are almost 5 times more likely than white people to be arrested just for having a little bit of weed, and in some counties, the number is almost 10 times greater. They further speak about arrests, stating the fact that 89% of people arrested for cannabis offenses in Alabama between 2012 and 2016 were arrested for possession alone. Another disturbing statistic is that cannabis sentencing isn’t doled out equally in Alabama. The severity of the sentence can be increased based on arbitrary factors like where you live. For example, living within a three-mile radius of a housing project will give you 5 extra years in prison, just because of your zip code. The Free Weed’s bottom line message is that they want to legalize Cannabis and Expunge Criminal Records Immediately. They also let people know that Alabama isn’t one of those states where we can petition to get cannabis legalization on the ballot for the people to vote on. What people can do, though, is vote for candidates who are committed to righting the wrongs of past cannabis policy. State Representative Chris England said, “Alabama’s Republican politicians seem hellbent on wasting money criminalizing ordinary people, ruining lives in the process,” and he added, “criminalizing cannabis doesn’t make us safer.” Responding to the website, and in striking contrast, the Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl responded to the campaign by saying, “The Alabama Republican Party supports traditional family values. It’s important to us that our society and our families stay safe, strong, and healthy. The recreational use of marijuana does not encourage these principles.” In addition to advocating for adult-use marijuana legalization, the website is also promoting the state’s Democratic Party and its candidates and includes links for donations, voter registration and volunteer opportunities. While not everyone may agree with the Democratic party, sometimes voting for the right issues is more important than staying in party lines. Comments are closed.
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