The drug war devastated Black and other minority communities. Is marijuana legalization helping?
GENE JOHNSON
Associated Press
Updated
When Washington state opened some of the nation’s first legal marijuana stores, Sam Ward Jr. was on home detention after being indicted on federal drug charges for dealing pot.
ARLINGTON, Wash. — When Washington state opened some of the nation's first legal marijuana stores in 2014, Sam Ward Jr. was on electronic home detention in Spokane, where he had been indicted on federal drug charges. He would soon be off to prison to serve the lion's share of a four-year sentence.
Cloud 9 Cannabis CEO and co-owner Sam Ward Jr., left, and co-owner Dennis Turner pose at their shop Feb. 1 in Arlington, Wash. Cloud 9 is one of the first dispensaries to open under the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board's social equity program.
Operational lead Willie Morrow stocks shelves at Cloud 9 Cannabis as the store prepares to open for the first time Feb. 1 in Arlington, Wash. Cloud 9 was one of the first dispensaries to open under the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board's social equity program.
Cloud 9 Cannabis CEO and co-owner Sam Ward Jr., left, and co-owner Dennis Turner pose at their shop Feb. 1 in Arlington, Wash. Cloud 9 is one of the first dispensaries to open under the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board's social equity program.
Operational lead Willie Morrow stocks shelves at Cloud 9 Cannabis as the store prepares to open for the first time Feb. 1 in Arlington, Wash. Cloud 9 was one of the first dispensaries to open under the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board's social equity program.
