Dear Editor,
As various Bills aimed to legalize marijuana continue to wind through the legislative process in the 2022 Virginia General Assembly, for many Black families, leaders, voters, and impacted communities across the state it all appears to be just another plate of warmed-over grits — horrible for our communities!
To the distress of Black leaders, voters, clergy, and congregations across Virginia, efforts to legalize marijuana by General Assembly legislators continue on a much-too-fast trajectory. This trajectory apparently is being driven by industry big-wigs and entrenched state politicians in the same ways as was the case in other states that have already legalized marijuana.
Interestingly, recent studies and national news reports clearly indicate a near shutout from the legal marijuana industry of Black communities, entrepreneurs, and investors. It appears the actions of marijuana industry insiders and Virginia legislators could once again relegate Black and other impacted communities solely to roles as the «mules» of this new industry, but now as patrons paying 25-30% in marijuana taxes when legally purchasing these products.
With billions and billions in anticipated state tax revenues in one vein and substantial profits made by business owners – who are already poised to dominate the industry – in another, Virginia’s proposed legislation is deficient in key areas. Glaringly scant are needed details requiring the sharing of billions in marijuana-related tax revenues and TRUE equity for Black and other significantly impacted communities statewide. As a side note, impacted communities do not often mean rural communities that have richly benefitted from the prison building sprees that occurred during the Allen, Gilmore, and other administrations. See: Up The Ridge Documentary
Many are mindful of how in 1999 legislators rightfully assisted tobacco farmers by forming the Virginia Tobacco Regional Revitalization Commission, to directly aid impacted tobacco farmers and communities after their livelihoods were drastically impacted by new Federal restrictions on the tobacco industry.
More recently, Virginia is now set to receive over $500 million dollars resulting from lawsuits related to the opioid crisis and scandals. It appears this windfall will also be used to help persons and communities that were devastated the most by the opioid epidemic.
Given these two glaring situations and the resultant actions by Virginia legislators, many overwhelmingly feel marijuana-related tax revenues (80% of such) should primarily be used to help remedy the damage done in the urban communities most adversely impacted by Virginia’s disparate enforcement of marijuana-related laws.
Will Virginia now do the right thing with marijuana-related tax revenues and other key aspects of the legal marijuana industry? The jury is still out with the final outcome now in the hands of legislators we all elect.
Significant concerns about legalization that are yet to be answered by industry insiders, legislators, and Youngkin Administration officials include:
-How will the BILLIONS in new marijuana-related tax revenues be used directly — and as determined by impacted persons and community leaders — to help repair the many broken lives, families, communities, and institutions resulting from Virginia’s very targeted laws and its War on Drugs?
-Because the cultivation of marijuana by Virginia law has been illegal, how will new laws distinctly, very clearly, and fully allow potential Black, other entrepreneurs, and investors ample opportunities to gain the technical knowledge needed about the intricate aspects of cultivating high-quality marijuana that will be sold to consumers?
-As NOT to repeat the failures by other states that have legalized marijuana, how will industry insiders and Virginia legislators MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE, by law, Black entrepreneurs and investors are truly included in this new industry, rather than by any hoped-for-grace and mercy of industry insiders and medical marijuana operators?
-How can any legislator feel they can’t pinpoint certain groups for gains via new marijuana laws when previous marijuana laws have
enabled the targeting of certain groups for the harshest of arrests, prosecutions, and punishment? Legislators routinely exercise vast creativity in crafting criteria that benefit or disadvantage certain groups. Pleas that «our hands are tied» with respect to this particular legislation strains credulity.
Many accurately question how today’s legislators are not now able to help rectify past legislative mistakes that devastated so many families, citizens, and particularly urban communities. Such past legislative mistakes that can finally be rectified in ways WITHOUT the use of any money from Virginia’s income tax receipts.
Whether one is a full believer or still an ardent Doubting Thomas, the legalization of marijuana in Virginia CAN be a huge win-win for ALL Virginians, but ONLY IF done in the right ways.
The time has come to invest the «manna from the heavens» produced by Virginia’s new marijuana industry in ways that improve the lives of many Virginians who need help the most. his doing likewise.
Dr. Lester Frye
First Vice President
Baptist Ministers Conference of Richmond and Vicinity
Central Virginia
Jonathan Davis
President
Richmond Crusade for Voters
Central Virginia
Kelvin Manurs
Returning Citizen Advocate & State Certified Peer Recovery Trainer
Northern Virginia
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