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Governor Evers Proposes to Legalize Medical Marijuana
MILWAUKEE COURIER — Earlier this week, Milwaukee Governor Tony Evers announced that his budget contains proposals which include the legalization of medical marijuana and the decriminalization of possessing small amounts of marijuana for personal use.
By Ana Martinez-Ortiz
The state of Wisconsin is preparing itself. Next week, Governor Tony Evers will release his proposed budget plan and Wisconsinites are looking forward to seeing what Evers plans in terms of healthcare, education and marijuana.
Earlier this week, Evers announced that his budget contains proposals which include the legalization of medical marijuana and the decriminalization of possessing small amounts of marijuana for personal use.
Another proposal would follow federal standards and allow the use of cannabidiol or CBD oil.
This could mean big things for Milwaukee, where a high amount of African American men have been arrested for possession of marijuana. Evers said the change in laws would allow for an expungement procedure for “individuals who have completed their sentence or probation for possession.”
So far, approximately 30 states and the District of Colombia have legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Last November, Wisconsinites voted to approve non-binding referenda, which asked if marijuana should be legalized for medical or recreational use.
Upon his announcement, Evers received support from Democratic leaders such as Rep. David Crowley.
“As a cancer survivor, I know the side effects of a major illness can make everyday tasks a challenge,” Evers said. “People shouldn’t be treated as criminals for accessing a desperately-needed medication that can alleviate their suffering.”
Through the proposal, people suffering from medical conditions such as cancer, glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, severe nausea and seizures would be allowed to use medical marijuana if their physician recommends it.
For many individuals suffering from an illness, medical marijuana could alleviate their pain. In certain cases, medical marijuana would become part of the treatment. If the proposal is passed, individuals would apply through the department of health services to receive an identification card, which would allow them to use medical marijuana.
Dispensaries interested in growing, selling, processing and testing medical marijuana would be subject to regulation to ensure the marijuana is safe for use. The proposal would require that all medical marijuana sold in the state would be grown here.
CBD oil, which is made from marijuana, would also be available for use. According to the press release, currently Wisconsin law requires that families in possession of CBD oil must have a yearly certification by a physician. The oil helps treat seizures in children. If Wisconsin were to align with the federal standards, it would eliminate the unnecessary barriers that prevent people from accessing CBD oil.
In other words, an individual could use CBD oil, which is known to alleviate chronic pain, without a physician’s certification.
Aside from changing the healthcare structure, the legalization of marijuana would change the lives of individuals who have been arrested for possession of marijuana. Wisconsin has the highest incarceration rate of black men in the country. Evers explained that his proposal would decriminalize the possession, manufacturing and distribution of marijuana for amounts of 25 grams or less.
“Too many people, often persons of color, spend time in our criminal justice system just for possessing small amounts of marijuana,” Evers said. “That doesn’t make our communities stronger or safer.”
The Wisconsin State Journal reported in early January that Republicans were not planning to support the legalization of medical marijuana. Upon Evers’ announcement this week, WSJ once again asked Assembly Speaker Robin Vos his opinion on the legalization. According to WSJ, Vos supported the use of medical marijuana in the past but said Evers’ proposal goes too far.
However, WSJ reported that Rep. Mary Felzkowski said she is working on a bipartisan proposal on medical marijuana legalization.
“This shouldn’t be a Republican issue or a Democratic issue, and I look forward to working on both sides of the aisle to pass this proposal in my budget,” Evers said.
This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Courier.
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IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.
Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.
Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”
Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.
“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”
The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.
Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.
President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.
Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.
Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
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Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.
Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.
Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.
Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.
Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.
The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.
In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.
The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
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Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy
May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
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