Cannabis has always been a vital part of Hip-Hop culture. Millions of black and brown Americans have used cannabis for healing, self-medication, and recreational use. Hip-Hop provided the perfect combination of imagery and syncopated beats which made cannabis “cool”. Unfortunately, this same imagery caused many black and brown Americans to be disproportionately targeted by police during the war on drugs. According to an analysis done by ACLU, marijuana arrests count for over half of all drug arrests in the United States. The analysis confirmed what the hood already knew: blacks are 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than whites. State and federal penitentiaries across the country are literally filled with non- violent people for possession of small amounts of cannabis.
Currently, the US prison system is the home to over 2 million Americans and is ran like an economy unto itself. The incarceration complex fuels a steady stream of money, by way of free labor, but who really profits off prisoners? Due to privatization and the consolidation of private-equity financial networks, entire business models for several companies are solely dependent on the number of people who occupy jail beds. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use. Much like the Gold Rush, the Green Rush has been beneficial for everyone except people of color whether free or incarcerated. The industry is largely controlled by white men according to Marijuana Business Daily. In 2017, 73 percent of cannabis executives were men and 81 percent were white. The cannabis industry is slated to be worth more than $20 billion nationally by 2020. Again, who really profits?
The fat lady hasn’t sang yet! We have Uncle Hov! Jay-Z was recently crowned as Hip-Hop’s first billionaire. We are officially crowning Jay-Z the King of Cannabis. Uncle Hov has entered a new, multi-year partnership with Caliva as a chief brand strategist. According to a statement from the cannabis company Caliva, the King of Cannabis will play a crucial role driving creative direction, outreach efforts and strategy for the brand. Mr. Carter has quietly played a huge role in helping the black and brown community combat the judicial system. He plans to use his new partnership with Caliva to continue that mission. According to a statement released by Carter himself, “Anything I do, I want to do correctly and at the highest level. With all the potential in the cannabis industry, Caliva’s expertise and ethos makes them the best partner for this endeavor. We want to create something amazing, have fun in the process, do good and bring people along the way.”
In a world where many artists do not give back to their community, and most certainly not at the level of Uncle Hov- we wholeheartedly support The First Family in reversing the effects of the war on drugs by helping black and brown people enter and benefit from the legalization of cannabis. Remember you read it here first at LA Vibe: Uncle Hov- The King of Cannabis!
Comentários