By Prince Hakeem
As we see a shift in our societal and national attitude towards marijuana, we also see growing restorative justice. Those affected by the faux War on Drugs are being rehabilitated.
It becomes increasingly difficult to justify sending people to prison for weed-related offenses as the country continues to progress on the matter, even more so when the primary “offenders” are black people.
One of the most notable examples of this travesty in the hip-hop world is the case of Atlanta rapper Ralo. The 26-year-old rapper has been locked up for three years as he awaits trial for an alleged drug trafficking case. With Georgia, most notably, as one of the 20 states allowing weed for medical use, several big names in the business and rap world are calling on President Joe Biden to help procure Ralo’s release from prison.
A new initiative from cannabis clemency activist group Mission Green has teamed up with entertainers such as Drake, T.I., Killer Mike, Deion Sanders, John Wall, Meek Mill, Julio Jones, 2 Chainz, and more to advocate for Ralo’s freedom in a public letter to Joe Biden.
“On behalf of Terrell Davis and his family, we strongly urge you to grant clemency for Mr. Davis, who is serving federal time for a nonviolent marijuana offense. The undersigned— musicians, actors, athletes, filmmakers, current and former elected and appointed government officials, advocates, and business leaders—strongly believe that justice necessitates the exercise of clemency in this case. Our nation’s view of cannabis has evolved, and it is indefensible to incarcerate citizens based on the unduly harsh attitudes of past generations.”
Several of the individuals co-sponsoring this letter have long been ringing the bell of support for Ralo.
“At a time where so many young White people and others are capitalizing off of marijuana’s new legitimacy to see this brother sit and suffer is sickening. He is a real one and helped his community, and now he is a hostage of the state,” Killer Mike tweeted.
“Matthew Maddox called in the pit boss, double checkin’/‘The number’s all good, just pay me, I’m at the Rhino,'” Drake raps. “Real life, the whole fam’ goons like Ralo,” rapped Drake on his Lemon Pepper Freestyle.
Here’s to hoping that President Biden keeps true to his words regarding decriminalizing marijuana and helping with justice reform on the issue.
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