Thread by @JewhadiTM

Reward lawbreaking with money? Great idea, Beta!

@BetoORourke wants the federal government to provide “Drug War Justice Grants” to people formerly incarcerated for nonviolent marijuana offenses politi.co/30qFMTf via @politico

If elected, O’Rourke pledged to use clemency power to release people now serving sentences for marijuana possession, and he called for expunging the records of those convicted of possession.

In his proposal Thursday, O’Rourke’s campaign said proposed "justice" grants would be funded entirely by a tax on the marijuana industry and would go to former state and federal inmates for a period based on time served.

O’Rourke’s campaign said a federal tax on the industry would also fund treatment programs, re-entry services and programs in communities disproportionately affected by marijuana arrests.

He also proposed tying federal criminal justice funding to a requirement that states and local governments waive licensing fees for marijuana-related businesses for low-income people who have been convicted of marijuana offenses.

“We need to not only end the prohibition on marijuana, but also repair the damage done to the communities of color disproportionately locked up in our criminal justice system or locked out of opportunity because of the War on Drugs,” O’Rourke said.

“These inequalities have compounded for decades, as predominantly white communities have been given the vast majority of lucrative business opportunities, while communities of color still face over-policing and criminalization.”

“It’s our responsibility to begin to remedy the injustices of the past and help the people and communities most impacted by this misguided war.”