Who'd a thunk?

Black Americans were nearly four times as likely as whites to be arrested on charges of marijuana possession in 2010, even though the two groups used the drug at similar rates, according to new federal data.

This disparity had grown steadily from a decade before, and in some states, including Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois, blacks were around eight times as likely to be arrested.

During the same period, public attitudes toward marijuana softened and a number of states decriminalized its use. But about half of all drug arrests in 2011 were on marijuana-related charges, roughly the same portion as in 2010.

So, two rather obvious observations: First, we are still a racist, racist country. The anecdotal evidence in this regard has always been fairly convincing, but there is no other way to interpret this data: our pot laws are enforced in a racially biased manner.

Second, our pot laws are stupidly counterproductive. Whatever damage marijuana abuse might being doing to the African American community, prohibition enforcement is exponentially more damaging. From a public policy perspective, these laws make absolutely no sense... unless, of course, their actual purpose is to keep African Americans down. Which of course brings us back to observation number one.

Something to think about, Mr. Obama, huh?