Author William Breathes

For ACLU-MN Executive Director Chuck Samuelson, the most likely explanation for the way Chris Lollie was treated by St. Paul law enforcement — including his rough arrest and the charges he was subsequently hit with — is skin deep. “The justice system is slanted against African American males, and this is a perfect example,” Samuelson told us during a recent interview.
“Marijuana possession, African Americans are seven times more likely to be arrested than white males,” Samuelson said. “African Americans serve 10 percent longer prison terms, are more likely to be searched than whites are, they’re stopped more and when they’re stopped they’re treated more harshly. It’s not right, that’s not something we should accept but anybody who says this isn’t a problem is probably smoking illegal drugs.”
More at the Minneapolis City Pages.

United for Care, a pro-medical marijuana lobby backed by attorney John Morgan, faces its biggest opponent: Florida’s cops. In June, members of the newly formed Don’t Let Florida Go to Pot coalition assembled in Tallahassee to educate voters on the dangers of marijuana and discourage voters from passing Amendment 2, which will be on the ballot this November. Although the group has more than 100 partners, its biggest advocate is the Florida Sheriff’s Association.
However, support from that group is not unanimous — only 63 of Florida’s 67 sheriffs have jumped aboard the Reefer Madness train. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel is one of the outliers who has resisted joining. His stance is notable not only because he runs the biggest police agency in Florida but because BSO is the largest sheriff’s department in the country. More at the Broward-Palm Beach New Times.

Starting October 1, anyone caught with ten grams of pot or less in Maryland will face a ticket instead of jail time. Fines increase with each time you’re busted, starting at $100 on first offense, $250 on second offense and mandatory clinical assessment for substance abuse on third offense.

The Magoksi Arts Colony in Fullerton, California is quiet when local painter Valerie Lewis arrives late Tuesday night with portraits in hand. A painting of Michael Brown, the 18-year-old unarmed Ferguson, Missouri man killed by police officer Darren Wilson is surrounded by flowers and a quote that reads “love is a song that never ends.” Next to that portrait is another piece by Lewis showing John Crawford, a 22-year-old African-American gunned down last month by police in Beavercreek, Ohio, holding a newborn child in his arms. Paintings from the Kelly Thomas memorial art show are laid out, waiting to be stationed.
The human faces of those killed by police in OC and beyond frame the Our Lives Matter: Portraits of the Unprotected exhibit slated to open Friday night during Fullerton’s art walk. The OC Weekly has more on this powerful project.