Across the country, debates are taking place in living rooms, on television screens, and behind closed doors in Congress as to how to address the systemically disproportionate levels of police violence against black Americans. For some, these conversations have been happening for years, yet many other Americans are just now beginning to critically think about these issues for the first time. 

As the House debates ways to reform policing in the United States, it’s critical that we not only analyze the structures under which law enforcement operates, but also the extraordinary powers that they have been granted — powers that often provide them with the ability to interact with citizens whenever and wherever they please. 

One common pretext provided by police for these citizen interactions is that they suspect that someone has either used or is in possession of marijuana. That is why Rep. Lou CorreaJose (Lou) Luis CorreaMan arrested, charged with threatening to attack Muslims in Germany Gloves come off as Democrats fight for House seat in California Dozens of Democrats plan to vote remotely in a first for the House MORE (D-Calif.) has suggested the need to amend federal anti-marijuana laws during the recent hearing on policing practices. 

Speaking recently with Georgetown Law Professor Paul Butler, Rep. Correa asked, “How do you think that the legalization of cannabis would help for social justice in this nation?”

Professor Butler’s answer was instructive. “We…