Join us to discuss Alderman Kovac and Alderman Hamilton's proposal to decriminalize marijuana in the City of Milwaukee.

Significant racial disparities exist in marijuana enforcement. In 2011, African Americans were over five times more likely to get arrested than white people, despite similar rates of usage. Even as the total number of arrests decreased slightly from 2010 to 2011, the disparity of Black vs. White arrests increased. A criminal record for simple possession creates a lifetime of collateral damage. The punishment should fit the crime, and public opinion increasingly favors more sensible drug policy and a new approach to marijuana.