Recently, the ACLU of Maryland released a report detailing the impact of the war on marijuana in Maryland and Baltimore City. According to the report, African Americans in Baltimore are almost six times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession, even though research shows comparable rates of marijuana use between the groups. Even without a conviction, arrests can show up in background checks, which are often used to determine eligibility for employment, housing, and educational opportunities.

As part of Open Society Institute-Baltimore’s commitment to reform discriminatory arrest and pre-trial detention policies, please join us on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. for a conversation about Baltimore’s marijuana arrest practices; their disparate consequences on our communities; and what we can do to eliminate discriminatory and unnecessary arrests. Presenters will include Sara Love, public policy director of ACLU of Maryland; Neill Franklin, executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition; and a Baltimore city resident who has been disproportionately impacted by marijuana arrest practices and policies.