Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and his cannabis brand, Monogram, have launched an impressive campaign to raise awareness regarding drug policies throughout the country. The campaign highlights the inherent basis toward marginalized communities within the justice system regarding drug policy.
"The war on drugs worked, if systemic racism was the goal,” one billboard reads.
“Weed is a federal crime, even in the states where sex with farm animals isn’t,” another billboard states.
This campaign is Carter's latest effort to change the cannabis industry for the better. In addition to raising awareness regarding drug laws, he has also worked to increase the representation of marginalized communities within the cannabis industry. Last year, he aligned himself with TPCO to “shape a brighter and inclusive future” within the cannabis industry.
“Cannabis laws are out of date and disproportionately cruel and punishing when compared to the rest of the legal code. We still don’t have proper regulation for texting and driving in Missouri, but staying home and smoking weed will get you locked up,” Carter said.
“I created this campaign to amplify the voices of those who have been penalized for the very same thing that venture capitalists are now prospering from with the emerging legal cannabis market. Far too often we forget that these are real people whose everyday lives and futures have been affected by this outdated legislature – people like Bryan Rone, who can no longer pursue a career in sales because of a cannabis-related conviction in 2003."
The campaign has kicked off in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Miami. Carter and company have plans to expand before the end of the month.
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