With recreational marijuana sales in Illinois set to become legal on Jan. 1., the city of Evanston has voted to use tax from cannabis sales to fund a reparations program for Black residents.
According to NBC Chicago, the program aims to uplift the city’s Black community by fighting the effects of slavery and discrimination while also providing job training and other benefits, according to 5th Ward Ald. Robin Rue Simmons. The program will also address the city’s wealth gap between its Black and white residents.
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Simmons believes the program will benefit residents affected by the war on drugs. It remains unclear when exactly the tax will start being collected.
“Our community was damaged due to the war on drugs and marijuana convictions. This is a chance to correct that. Our disadvantage and discrimination has continued beyond outlawing Jim Crow and beyond enslavement,” Simmons told The Washington Post.
Source: Illinois City to Use Marijuana Tax to Fund Reparations for Black Residents
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