Marilyn Mosby the State’s Attorney for Baltimore, Maryland, United States and the youngest chief prosecutor of any major American city.
She writes for the Baltimore Sun
Last week, I traveled to Washington, D.C., to testify before Congress as part of the first-ever hearing to discuss marijuana legalization. It was an honor to represent Baltimore and to tell the story of our city’s resilience and fighting spirit even when faced with so many challenges and obstacles endemic to urban America.
I used this opportunity to lay out my views on why the war on drugs has failed, and what actions our local, state and federal government must take to right the wrongs of the past.
I wanted Congress to hear that the debate over whether we should legalize marijuana is essentially over, as 11 states have legalized marijuana already. The question is no longer if or even when we legalize marijuana nationally. The question policymakers must grapple with is: How should we legalize marijuana?
From my standpoint, as the lead prosecutor in a city devastated by the war on drugs, I made clear to Democrats and Republicans that they must be thoughtful and ensure that any legislative proposal repairs the damage done by marijuana prohibition and creates opportunities for those communities most adversely impacted.
Nevertheless, I went to Congress because I will never give up the fight for a more equitable criminal justice system. My hope is that members of Congress hear my plea for broad marijuana reform that encourages and incentivizes the states to create access to the industry for those harmed by prohibition, automates mass expungement and promotes community reinvestment from marijuana tax revenue. The federal government has historically funded state law enforcement to make marijuana arrests; we must now redirect those dollars to fund re-entry programs, harm reduction initiatives and robust diversion programs. In turn, I hope congressional action will spur reforms in Maryland, and our state can turn the page on prohibition. Despite the hyper-partisanship that dominates Washington, marijuana legalization is a policy area where Democrats and Republicans largely agree. If a dysfunctional Washington, D.C., can move on marijuana reform, surely we can move a bipartisan effort in Annapolis.
Last week’s historic hearing demonstrated that the end is nigh for marijuana prohibition, but in Baltimore and beyond, we must ensure that legalization is done the right way. Impacted communities must be made whole again through automatic mass expungement, resentencing, and reinvestment. To do otherwise, would be to perpetrate the injustices of the past.