You don’t need to look very far in the headlines to know that we need MORE accountability for law enforcement in America, not less. Police violence and abuse have harmed countless Americans, particularly those who belong to Black, brown, Indigenous communities, or low-income backgrounds.
But qualified immunity is shielding police officers from accountability for their actions, even when those actions result in unjust incarceration, harm, or death. And as long as cannabis remains criminalized, many are facing police abuse, violence, and imprisonment for nonviolent cannabis-related offenses.
The system is in serious need of reform—and that means ending qualified immunity.
President Biden has made modest commitments in recent years towards criminal justice reform—from the creation of a “civilian corps of unarmed first responders” to the removal of barriers preventing states from legalizing and regulating cannabis.[1] But so much more is needed.
Ending qualified immunity and fully legalizing cannabis are crucial steps in the broader fight for justice. These issues are about the right to live without fear and the right to make our own choices.
Thank you for fighting for justice.
With Gratitude,
Rhett Martino
Coordinating Organizer
BOWL PAC
Leave a Reply