Black Lives Matter.
Let us start by saying that we fully support the movement to improve racial injustice in America.
We’re against police brutality.
Our founders worked for César Chávez. They participated in the Rodney King protests. And today they, their children, and the entire Holden Farms team are in full support of the current protests.
As the racial climate of our country changes, we want you to know that we firmly believe this isn’t a political movement – it’s a human rights movement.
To our Black brothers and sisters: We stand with you. We hear you. And we fully intend to be part of the change to make our world equal for you.
Racial Inequality & Marijuana
There are many aspects of systemic racism that need to be addressed, and one we feel most passionate about is the legalization of marijuana.
It’s important to note that there is an obscene amount of prisoners still incarcerated for crimes related to marijuana. And a disproportionate amount of those incarcerated are of minority groups.
Take a look at these statistics:
Number of people arrested for a marijuana law violation in 2018: 663,367
Number of those charged with marijuana law violations who were arrested for possession only: 608,775
Percentage of people arrested for drug law violations who are Black or Latino: 46.9% (despite making up just 31.5% of the U.S. population)
Statistics from https://www.drugpolicy.org/issues/drug-war-statistics
Additionally…
According to the ACLU’s original analysis, marijuana arrests now account for over half of all drug arrests in the United States. Of the 8.2 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010, 88% were for simply having marijuana. Nationwide, the arrest data revealed one consistent trend: significant racial bias. Despite roughly equal usage rates, Blacks are 3.73 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana.
https://www.aclu.org/gallery/marijuana-arrests-numbers
We’re committed to pushing legislation that removes racial injustice surrounding marijuana use.
We’ve seen the benefit of hemp derived CBD and marijuana in our lives, and we want you to know of our commitment to spreading that knowledge to all – no matter the amount of melanin in your skin.
No one should be jailed for attempting to improve their own health and wellness.
ESPECIALLY our brothers and sisters of the BIPOC community.