President Joe Biden set to Pardon all Federal Offenders of Simple Marijuana Possession 

-O. Adejo

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, is set to pardon all prior federal charges for simple marijuana possession. The White House announced this on Thursday and made it available via the President’s official Twitter handle.

The tweet said, “First: I’m pardoning all prior federal offences of simple marijuana possession. There are thousands of people who were previously convicted of simple possession who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My pardon will remove this burden,”

“Second: I’m calling on governors to pardon simple state marijuana possession offenses. Just as no one should be in a federal prison solely for possessing marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either.

Third: We classify marijuana at the same level as heroin — and more seriously than fentanyl. It makes no sense. I’m asking @SecBecerra and the Attorney General to start the process of reviewing how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.

I’d also like to note that as federal and state regulations change, we still need important limitations on trafficking, marketing, and underage sales of marijuana.”

This pardon will affect over 6,500 people convicted of simple marijuana possession in the past years and also free thousands convicted under Washington DC laws. Biden also stated that people who have been convicted often have difficulty finding work, housing, or educational opportunities, but he intends to alleviate that burden for them.

This latest executive action by President Biden has helped him fulfill one of his major campaign promises, that no one should be imprisoned for marijuana possession.