President Joe Biden has stated that he will pardon thousands of Americans who have been convicted of "simple possession" of marijuana under federal law. This comes after the Democrats tried to woo voters by doling out debt restructuring on student loans and are still facing a midterms red wave.
Proponents of legalization praised the move as a major step in the direction of decriminalizing the drug and correcting charge procedures that unfairly affect people of color under his administration.
Many thousands of people convicted of the same offense in the District of Columbia are also affected by Biden's action. And he's urging state governors to do the same for people with marijuana convictions at the state level, where the vast majority of possession convictions occur.
Biden said in a statement that he is taking this action because he believes that nobody should be in jail solely for using or possession of drugs.
He also said, Our disastrous approach to marijuana has upended too many lives. It's high time we make amends for these wrongs.
The White House has stated that there are no inmates in federal jail for "simple possession" of the substance, but that thousands of people could benefit from the pardon by being able to rent a home or get a job.
According to him, thousands of people with prior Federal convictions for marijuana use may be denied work, housing, or educational prospects because of it. I hope that by taking this step, I might lessen the impact these convictions have on society in general.
The conviction for producing or possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute is not covered by the pardon. Non-citizens who were arrested while present in the United States illegally will not be granted pardons under Biden's administration.
The statement indicates Biden's realization of the consequences of the criminal laws he backed in 1994, which led to a rise in the incarceration rate for drug charges, especially among persons of color.
The Justice Department is currently working out the details of how persons who qualify for Biden's pardon might obtain a pardon certificate to present to prospective employers and others.
Furthermore, Biden has requested that the scheduling of marijuana be reviewed by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice. If the substance were rescheduled, the associated criminal penalties would be less severe, if not eliminated entirely. Along with heroin and LSD, marijuana is now a Schedule I narcotic, ranking above fentanyl and methamphetamine. The White House has not committed to a schedule for the investigation.
Even if the federal government and several states are relaxing marijuana prohibitions, Biden said he thinks there should still be restrictions on trafficking, marketing, and underage sales.
With this decision, Biden has brought the federal government in line with major cities like New York, which have been working for years to end the practice of charging and jailing people for minor marijuana offenses. Some law enforcement agencies, however, hold the view that drug use leads to more serious crime and that turning a blind eye to minor violations encourages criminals.
The Drug Policy Alliance's executive director, Kassandra Frederique, expressed her organization's "thrill" at Biden's declaration.
Frederique remarked, This has been long overdue. As the author puts it, there is no reason why people should be saddled with a criminal record, preventing them from gaining work, housing, and numerous other chances, for something that is currently lawful in 19 states and D.C.
Whether or not governors will follow Biden's example is an open question.
The preceding is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Headline USA.
