As a blog for a weed lawyer in Omaha, this site often covers trending news about potential legislation changes and what different agencies are doing or saying about bringing them to fruition, but the latest group to talk might surprise some folks. It seems the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is calling for a change in Nebraska as well, and their statistics are spot on.
“The War on Drugs is a Failed Policy”
It seems this website wasn’t the only one to catch the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) latest release about Nebraska’s increases in marijuana busts and enforcement expenditures. Executive Director Danielle Conrad of Nebraska’s ACLU noticed it, too, and had a few choice things to say about the results of the report.
“The war on drugs is a failed policy helping to drive a system of mass incarceration that clogs our courts, puts added pressure on our prison system, and impacts the economic and civic participation of many Nebraskans,” she said. “This study provides an excellent opportunity for Nebraskans to have a dialogue about whether we should we be spending over $10 million annually policing small amounts of marijuana or whether it would it be a better use of taxpayer funds to focus on smart justice strategies like prevention and treatment that are proven to keep our communities safer."
The Role of Race in the War on Drugs is Striking
In 2013, the ACLU released its own report, entitled “The War on Marijuana in Black and White,” which pointed out major differences in arrest rates across the country. Nebraska had the third-highest arrest rate for marijuana possession in the nation, only behind New York and Washington, D.C., but it topped the charts in when it came to race, with 1,699 blacks arrested per 100,000 residents. The second-highest state was Illinois, which lagged behind at 1,526. Overall, blacks were found to be arrested 4.6-times more often than whites in Nebraska as well. Though UNO’s report referenced the ACLU stats, it didn’t mention the racial disparities at all. Interestingly, the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) also released a report recently that showed major disparities across the board for all drug crimes. Their data indicated that nearly half of those arrested for drug crimes in America are Hispanic. However, Black arrests in this case trail slightly behind whites, by a 0.1% margin.
Weed Lawyer in Omaha
Regardless of race arrest rates, you will need an experienced weed lawyer in Omaha if you’re charged with a marijuana-related crime. The penalties can include decades behind bars and thousands of dollars in fines, depending on the offense. Daniel Stockmann has been serving the community for nearly two decades and has a track record of success for his clients. Take advantage of a free case evaluation with Mr. Stockmann by calling (402) 884-1031 today.
