News, White House Report

Decriminalizing Cannabis

April Ryan
June 3, 2019

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke speaks before the House Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 29, 1988. (AP Photo/John Duricka)

The decriminalization of cannabis (marijuana) is becoming more of a notion for places like Philadelphia and Baltimore where the”War on Drugs” has adversely impacted the Black community.

AURN Washington Bureau Chief April Ryan speaks with former Baltimore mayor Kurt Schmoke, who in 1988 was an early advocate for decriminalization and has remained critical of the War on Drugs policy.

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Such an encouragement to me my entire career, former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke is Chair of the Board of BCCC and current President of University of Baltimore! He was way ahead of the times in 1988 calling for the decriminalization of drugs- viewing it as a health issue verses a criminal issue.

A post shared by April D. Ryan (@adr1600) on Jun 1, 2019 at 7:20am PDT

April Ryan has a unique vantage point as the only Black female reporter covering urban issues from the White House, a position she has held with AURN since the Clinton era. Her position as a White House Correspondent has afforded her heightened insight into the racial sensitivities, issues, and attendant political struggles of our nation. April has written three books; The Presidency in Black & White: My Close-Up View of Three Presidents and Race in America, At Mama's Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White, and Under Fire: Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House. Twitter: @aprildryan