As his administration takes a dramatic step toward decriminalizing the drug and addressing charging practices that disproportionately impact people of color, President Joe Biden is pardoning thousands of Americans who have been convicted of simple possession.
Thousands of people convicted of the crime in DC are covered by Biden's move. He is calling on the governors to issue pardons for those who have been convicted of state marijuana offenses.
Biden said that no one should be in jail just for using or possession of marijuana.
Many lives have been ruined because of our failed approach to marijuana. We need to correct these wrongs.
According to the White House, no one is currently in federal prison for simple possession of the drug, but the pardon could help thousands overcome obstacles to renting a home or finding a job.
Thousands of people with prior Federal convictions for marijuana possession may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities due to their prior convictions. The consequences of these convictions will be alleviated by my actions.
The pardon doesn't cover convictions for possession of other drugs or for charges relating to marijuana production with an intent to distribute. Non-citizens who were in the US at the time of their arrest will not be pardoned by Biden.
The Department of Justice is working to come up with a process for those covered by Biden's pardon to get a certificate of pardon, which they can show to potential employers and others.
The Justice Department said in a statement that it would administer the President's pardons for people who engaged in simple possession of marijuana. The Office of the Pardon Attorney will begin issuing certificates of pardon in the near future.
The secretary of Health and Human Services and the U.S. attorney general are being directed to review how marijuana is scheduled. Criminal penalties for possession could be reduced or eliminated if the drug is re-scheduling. Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, but ahead of heroin and LSD. The White House did not give a time frame for the review.
As the federal government and many states relax their marijuana laws, Biden believes they should keep in place some of the restrictions.
New York and other big cities have been decriminalizing low-level marijuana arrests for years, thanks to the move by Biden. Some police departments still think that the drug leads to more serious crime and that they should ignore low-level offenses.
The executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance said they were thrilled by Biden's announcement.
Frederique said this was incredibly long-awaited. In 19 states and the District of Communism, it's legal to have a criminal record, and in 31 states it's decriminalized.
One of the priorities of the Democratic nominee in one of their party's most critical Senate races is to get Biden to take the step.
Fetterman shared Biden's announcement and said, "We did it, Joe"
That's right.
Colleen Long wrote for the AP.
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