Minnesota legal marijuana advocates focus on racial equity

Marijuana is a burden of Kente Shivers' past, but he hopes it can be his lifeline to a better future.

He was charged with felony possession of marijuana in 2017 and sentenced to more than 30 months in prison, a criminal record that's made it nearly impossible to find work and housing since he was released last year.

Now, Minnesota legislators are debating legalizing marijuana for adults and creating a marketplace to sell it, framing it as a racial equity issue that will help address the economic disparities and the disproportionate toll drug offenses have taken on communities of color.

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-legal-marijuana-advocates-focus-on-racial-equity/600056064/