After explaining that he used to smoke weed, David Brooks writes that legalizing weed, which he conflates with encouraging use, may make it harder for people to become who they want to be. What he neglected to mention is that a criminal record, or prison sentence, for possession of pot definitely makes it harder for people to be who they want to be. It can prevent individuals from getting student loans or a state job. Plus, despite similar rates of use, African Americans are nearly four times as likely to be arrested for possession as white people.