"A criminal record isn't just a line in a database-it's a shadow that trails behind a person long after their debt has been paid. For too many New Yorkers, that shadow began with something as small as a cannabis arrest. These records, born from decades of over-policing and selective enforcement, continue to trap individuals in cycles of poverty and exclusion. That's where the Cannabis Justice & Equity Initiative (CJEI) and its pioneering Justice Lab come in."
"Founded on the belief that no one should be forever defined by their past, this initiative is rewriting the story of what justice can look like in the post-prohibition era. "We refuse to accept that a record should define someone's worth," says co-founder Sean Farrow. "Our work is about tearing down those invisible walls and building pathways toward freedom, dignity, and equality.""
"For decades, the War on Drugs didn't just criminalize cannabis-it criminalized communities. Roughly 95% of those targeted by cannabis enforcement came from already marginalized Black and Brown neighborhoods. These communities bore the brunt of harsh policing, while wealthier, whiter areas often treated cannabis use as a joke or a phase. The results have been generational: families separated, careers destroyed, and opportunities systematically denied."
Criminal records from cannabis arrests continue to restrict New Yorkers long after sentences end, perpetuating poverty, exclusion, and lost opportunity. Decades of over-policing and selective enforcement disproportionately targeted Black and Brown neighborhoods, with roughly 95% of cannabis enforcement affecting marginalized communities. Legalization has not automatically relieved those harmed, leaving many convicted for now-legal acts. The Cannabis Justice & Equity Initiative and its Justice Lab provide hands-on legal, policy, and community interventions to clear records, remove barriers, and create equitable access to the emerging cannabis economy. The Lab prioritizes dignity, equality, and practical pathways to economic inclusion.
Read at stupidDOPE | Est. 2008
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