Blog

“For 29 years, I have defended clients facing marijuana charges in the District. At every initial appearance, without fail, the judge admonishes the defendant either to stay in school or to hold down a job. But most employers in this town will not hire entry-level workers who do not have a police clearance. What crime is increasingly tripping up those looking for work? Possession of marijuana. In 1995, police in the District arrested about 1,850 people for having pot. By 2011, the number had skyrocketed to more than 6,000. There are twice as many marijuana arrests in the District as there are students graduating from D.C. high schools each year.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-for-dc-to-stop-wrecking-lives-over-a-bag-of-weed/2013/05/24/e3bbc8cc-c314-11e2-914f-a7aba60512a7_story.html