Since the 70s, the growth of the cannabis industry has been a long road. Perhaps the biggest obstacle to its consumers, distributors, and businesses, has been the War on Drugs. On the outside, the government-led campaign was aimed at stopping the trade of illegal drugs by dramatically increasing prison sentences for both drug dealers and users. At its core, however, the campaign targeted Black and politically left-winged people. Millions of people were and remain affected by the War on Drugs with possibly none being more notorious than the case of White Boy Rick.
Who is White Boy Rick?
Richard Wershe, aka “White Boy Rick” is the longest-serving non-violent juvenile offender in Michigan history. Wershe’s story is a tragic example of how corrupt the War on Drugs was. To shed light on the effects of the War on Drugs, Rick’s story has been told through several documentaries; this includes a Box Office film that featured Mathew McConaughey.
Image Via PR Newswire
The film shares the backstory behind White Boy Rick’s prison sentence as well as the details of his upbringing. Raised by a single father during the height of the crack epidemic and the War on Drugs, Wershe became involved in the illegal sale of guns with his father. Through his business dealings, Wershe became friends with a member of a local gangster’s crew. When the FBI heard the news of White Boy Rick’s involvement, they forced him to become the youngest FBI informant ever at the age of 14. Wershe sold drugs to keep up appearances. At 17, the FBI arrested him, charging Wershe with a life sentence. The FBI denied ever having hired him as an informant.
Over 30 years later, Richard Wershe is a free man. Recently, he announced the release of his cannabis brand, “The 8th,” in partnership with Pleasantrees Cannabis Company. The name refers to the eighth amendment which prohibits the cruel and unusual punishment of defendants. The brand will dedicate a large portion of sales toward the release of wrongfully imprisoned or excessively imprisoned drug offenders.
What The 8th Stands For
Cannabis and The War on Drugs
The story of White Boy Rick brings to mind the role of the cannabis industry in the efforts of Americans to reverse the War on Drugs. The conversation around cannabis policy through the expansion of the industry has centered around issues on Criminal justice reform and racial equity. While White Boy Rick was not a black man, there are millions of Black prisoners that have had their lives torn apart by the War on Drugs.
As more states pass cannabis reform laws, racial justice, opportunity, equity, and de-incarceration are pushing to the forefront as methods to reverse the War on Drugs.
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