But we are not the same union as we were in 1776, in 1861 as a country divided fighting a civil war, or in 1971 – when the War on Drugs ravaged through minority communities of The First State.
Today, about a third of Americans live in a state where they have legal or medical access to cannabis and cannabis products.
The most recent Gallup poll shows more than two in three Americans support legalizing cannabis.
The reminders of our dark past live on in places like these, and trauma is passed down through generations.
To be targeted by a government that is based on values of freedom and equality is an irony that descendants of slavery know too well.
Residents in Delaware will soon be able to drive over state borders to gain access to legal cannabis – all thanks to our neighbors in New Jersey and Virginia who will soon have burgeoning markets that regulate medical and adult-use cannabis.
In a paper published by the Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation, multiple federal policy recommendations were discussed that would help Black communities access capital, start small businesses, and conduct operations in an industry that needs more Black voices and business owners.
Even in the 21sttcentury, every American is entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.