Rev. William Henry opposes marijuana legalization. He says government rarely does with the proceeds what it says it will do.
“And you may say, ‘why would children be smoking marijuana?’ Well, if their parents have it, it’s in their household,” said Henry, a pastor at Everlasting Life Ministries.
But, Rev. Charles Boyer is an outspoken advocate for legalization. Boyer recalls how a decades-old campaign has led to the disproportionate marijuana arrests, prosecutions, convictions and incarcerations of blacks and browns. He quoted Harry Anslinger, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.
“There are a total of 100,000 marijuana smokers in the United States, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and others,” Boyer said, quoting Anslinger testimony from 1937.
“You know what? That’s the first time I’ve ever heard that. That’s alarming,” said director of the Paterson Police Department Jerry Speziale.