Drug laws have historically been racist. Marijuana activists are helping minority dealers go legal

Fourth-generation Oakland native Tucky Blunt grew up around weed. His grandmother used it. So did his parents and his friends.

Blunt (yes, that’s his real last name) started selling to friends in the neighborhood when he was 16. He was usually careful, buying in bulk from a trusted supplier and selling to customers who’d call him to meet up.

After nearly a decade of illegal sales, it was $80 of pot that got him in trouble. He was found with a handful of small baggies stashed in his pants when police officers came for him, tipped off by someone Blunt thought was a friend.

“We were out there trying to make money to help support our families at a time when people didn’t have a lot money. We didn’t think we were hurting anyone,” said Blunt, now 39. “I liked weed. I knew people who liked weed. Why not facilitate them getting good weed? That’s how I looked at it.”

His 2004 arrest and subsequent conviction left Blunt with a 10-year felony probation, allowing the cops to stop and search him anytime, for any reason. Meanwhile, all around Oakland, young black men like him were getting arrested while most of the white guys who were selling weed were left alone. [Read More @ USA Today]