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PresidentJoe Bidenhas made a historic move in the fight for marijuana justice reform, while fulfilling a campaign promise.
Biden continued: “Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. And while white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates. Today, I am announcing three steps that I am taking to end this failed approach.”
The president said he is working with U.S. Attorney GeneralMerrick Garlandon an administrative process to pardon eligible individuals, which he hopes will “relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions,” such as issues with offenders securing housing, education and employment.
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A rep for the White House did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on whether pardoned offenders will regain the right to vote, and whether that will go into effect in time for November’s midterm elections.
Biden also urged governors to pardon state offenders serving time for the same charges, in addition to asking HHS to reconsider marijuana’s classification as Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, the same as heroin and LSD. As such, it is regarded as a more dangerous drug than fentanyl and methamphetamine.
“Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time that we right these wrongs,” Biden concluded.
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Although more than 6,500 U.S. citizens have been convicted of simple possession of marijuana between 1992 and 2021, according toNBC News, there are currently no federal offenders in prison solely for simple possession. Most marijuana possession convictions occur at a state level.
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The 46th president of the United States previously expressed that “nobody should be in jail for smoking marijuana” during his presidential campaign in 2019.
Campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates told CNN at the time that Biden wants to decriminalize marijuana and expunge prior criminal records for marijuana possession. Although, he stated that legalization should continue to be decided on a state level.
source: people.com
