Cannabis legalization and economic justice are deeply intertwined. Throughout America’s history of cannabis prohibition, the enforcement of such laws has consistently targeted and harmed the most economically vulnerable communities.
It is alarming to know that in 43 states, employers are legally allowed to pay their workers as little as $2.13 per hour.[1] This subminimum wage system only serves to further entrench the legalized oppression faced by those who are less economically secure.
For far too long, companies have evaded their responsibility to pay workers even the minimum wage, exacerbating economic inequality. That is why BOWL PAC has joined forces with Progress America in sponsoring a joint petition to demand an end to this legalized poverty perpetuated by the subminimum wage.
Our fight for cannabis legalization and ending the subminimum wage is rooted in intersectional justice. Black Americans are 3.78 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana-related charges than white people.[2] Moreover, 70% of tipped workers are women and 43% are people of color.[3] These statistics underscore the urgent need to address these inequalities, strengthening our solidarity as we work to abolish unjust practices.
Thank you for adding your name. Our movement for cannabis legalization is all-encompassing, and we will always fight for intersectional justice that reaches far beyond any single cause.
With Gratitude,
Rhett
Rhett Martino
Coordinating Organizer
BOWL PAC
P.S. Our BOWL PAC activist community is growing rapidly! Will you chip in $5 a month or more to support our cause? Together, we can win legalization.
[1] U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employee
[2] ACLU: Marijuana Arrests by the Numbers
[3] Center for American Progress: Ending the Tipped Minimum Wage Will Reduce Poverty and Inequality
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