Even though I was absolutely dreading last week’s presentation, I am really happy with the direction my project is going instead. I think I needed a little bit of a nudge in the right direction. I felt my research had been telling me something I already sort of knew, which left me unsatisfied and frustrated. After presenting, getting feedback from classmates, and talking through things with Professor Greene, I’m really excited about the direction my project is headed. My new intentions are to create a policy proposal that suggests a way to obstruct the inequalities between black and white entrepreneurs that emerge as the legalization of marijuana spreads. Whether it’s because people truly believe in marijuana use or they are proponents of more personal liberty, numbers favoring the legalization of marijuana are growing, and this affects our world on many layers. In my research I have found serval different takes on advocacy and opposition of marijuana, but none have felt as compelling or noteworthy as the reality of inequalities that arise from the legalization of marijuana. This is important because it does not necessarily mean that illegal marijuana is the preference, because of course, we are aware of the rates of incarceration for black men in comparison to every other demographic – so we know that marijuana’s illegality also generates inequality. The legal process of getting a marijuana grower’s license, or opening up a dispensary is no easy task, especially when you have a criminal record. And, considering that the internet is saturated with statistics such as: “Even though there is minimal difference in the amount of marijuana used by blacks and whites, blacks are four times more likely than whites to be arrested for smoking pot, according to a 2013 study by the American Civil Liberties Union.” (Washington Post) – we can assume that black people, especially black men, are at an obvious disadvantage that deserves attention. I will examine specific cases (like this one I just found out about in Maryland) to give myself a bit more background over the next couple of days. But ultimately, based on the historical research I’ve done, and the trends that I have found, my proposal will attempt create some sort of Affirmative Action, micro loan esc plan that appropriately accounts for inequalities and provides a well-informed solution.