Ben & Jerry’s advocates for cannabis justice and record expungement

Ben & Jerry’s took a stand on April 20 to reinforce their ongoing commitment to cannabis justice, specifically emphasizing the need for criminal record expungements and sentence reductions. Working with organizations like the ACLU and the Arizona Justice Project, Ben & Jerry’s not only sells ice cream, but also advocates for profound social change.

Many states in the US, including Arizona, have legalized or decriminalized cannabis. However, the remnants of past laws continue to hang like shadows over hundreds of thousands of individuals who still suffer from past cannabis-related convictions. Arizona, which legalized cannabis and passed ban measures in 2020, still has about 200,000 people affected by old convictions on its records.

Palika Makam, the American activism manager of Ben & Jerry’s, emphasizes that detention is not enough. True justice requires cleaning up the records of those previously convicted to ensure they are not permanently harmed. This year, Ben & Jerry’s focus is clear: “Legalization without justice is half-baked.”

The partnership with the Arizona Justice Project is particularly strategic and focuses on compelling local prosecutors to proactively work on expungement. Martin L. Hutchins Jr., marijuana eradication program manager at the AZ Justice Project, points to the unique position of prosecutors who can initiate expungement processes, actively correcting past injustices rather than simply enforcing laws.

The initiative underlines the broad impact of cannabis beliefs, which limit access to jobs, housing, education and full civic participation, perpetuating a cycle of social exclusion and inequality. This data disproportionately impacts communities of color, exacerbating long-standing racial inequities within the justice system.

Ben & Jerry’s also emphasizes the power of community and grassroots advocacy in driving change. Successful efforts in states like Oregon, where expungement and penalty forgiveness have been implemented, demonstrate the potential of citizen engagement through letter-writing campaigns and other advocacy efforts. The company encourages supporters to use an autofill letter template available on their activism website to urge governors across the country to take action.

For those who want to get involved or learn more about the intersection of social justice and cannabis reform, Ben & Jerry’s offers resources and detailed information on their dedicated social justice page.

Ben & Jerry’s commitment to social justice, especially cannabis justice, reminds us of the power of corporate responsibility and the importance of aligning business practices with ethical advocacy to create real, positive change in society.

Discover opportunities for maximum brand awareness. For advertising, please contact us.