tHe War on MariJUana in BlacK anD WHite

PROFILE
deMarcus Sanders, 26
Waterloo, IA
The first time DeMarcus Sanders was arrested for having marijuana,
it cost him his job, his driver’s license, the start of a college degree, a
month in jail, and thousands of dollars.
A police officer pulled Mr. Sanders over for playing his music too loud. “My
music was up,” he said. “So I didn’t argue with him.”
The first time DeMarcus
Sanders was arrested
for having marijuana,
it cost him his job, his
driver’s license, the
start of a college degree,
a month in jail, and
thousands of dollars.
24 | The <strong>War</strong> on Marijuana in Black and White
After the police officer ran
Mr. Sanders’ license, he
said he smelled marijuana,
and insisted on searching
the car. He found a single
marijuana seed on the floor,
and arrested Mr. Sanders.
Mr. Sanders pled guilty and
was sentenced to 30 days in
jail. While in jail, he was let
go from his janitorial job and
lost credit for the college
classes he had been taking.
Even though it has been a few years since he was arrested, Mr. Sanders
still owes the state $2,346 for room and board at the jail, and for fines,
court costs, and other fees. “They always send you threats like ‘You’ll get
more jail time if you don’t hurry up and pay this off,’” he said.
But as Mr. Sanders is all too aware, it is hard to pay off fines when you do
not have a job, and it is hard to find or keep a job when you do not have
a driver’s license. Getting arrested for marijuana possession in Iowa
automatically triggers a six-month suspension of one’s license. And one
has to pay off a certain percentage of court fees and fines before it can be
reinstated.
In fact, of all the consequences of his marijuana arrest, the biggest
challenge has been losing his driver’s license. Waterloo does not have