New York’s recent legislation to legalize marijuana and expunge arrest records doesn’t address the root cause of systematic racism in weed-related arrests, instead benefitting entrepreneurs in the state, said an Although the legislation is a “long overdue” step, it doesn’t address systemic issues that marginalized communities will continue to face regarding the treatment of marijuna-related crimes, said Iannuzzi.

Iannuzzi claims that any criminal or social justice grounded motives for the legislation are overpowered by claims that the state pushed for legislation once realizing that the legal sale of marijuana “could reap billions.” “Those who see this as a new day for social justice need to look beyond the “smoke” created by those more interested in their financial equity rather than racial equality,” said Iannuzzi.