President Joe Biden issued a proclamation declaring April as “Second Chance Month” to people who have been in prison. He also used the occasion to highlight his marijuana pardons, and discuss the collateral consequences of cannabis convictions.
The Friday proclamation was not directly focused on marijuana clemency. The proclamation is meant to be more inclusive and raise awareness about “helping people make new beginnings and building a safer, more just society.”
Biden stated that his administration worked to stop crime and break the “cycle of recidivism.” This effort included granting a mass pardon for federal marijuana possession offenders late last year.
He stated that the White House had “taken historic measures to end our Nation’s failed approach towards marijuana.”
The proclamation states that sending people to prison for possession of drugs has caused too many deaths for conduct that many States have stopped allowing. It has led to Black and Brown Americans being unfairly detained, prosecuted and convicted, as well as unfair barriers to housing, employment and education.
“Last autumn, I announced a pardon for Federal, D.C. simple possession offenses while calling upon other elected officials to do so at the State-level and local levels, where most marijuana prosecutions occur,” it states.
Although presidential pardons are symbolic of formal forgiveness by federal government officials, there is some controversy about how they impact housing. The records can’t be expunged, and could still be used against individuals in certain circumstances, congressional researchers have indicated.
In a factsheet released before the President’s State of the Union speech in February, the White House also argued that the pardons could lift economic and social barriers.
Separately, the president signed an executive order in February on equity promotion within the White House as well as federal agencies . It also included references to the earlier marijuana pardons.
Biden’s push for state-level relief may bring more tangible results to those who have been involved in cannabis criminalization. Although he has made repeated mentions of his message to governors before, this proclamation refers to local clemency as a new feature he is encouraging.
In recent months, the president has spoken out repeatedly about his pardon action, saying that it’s “changed lives of thousands” and emphasizing racial disparities regarding cannabis enforcement.
Recently, the Justice Department issued applications to people who were granted pardon in order to obtain a formal certificate proving that they have been forgiven.
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Biden also pardoned several thousand people and directed federal agencies to conduct an administrative review of federal marijuana scheduling. Officials have promised to expedite that review, although the timing is not clear.
Last month, more than 12 bipartisan congressional legislators wrote to the top Biden administration officials asking for transparency in the ongoing cannabis scheduling review.
At a Senate hearing last month, Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that DOJ was “still working on marijuana policy” while waiting for the results of the scientific review by health agencies.
Bipartisan Congressional bill Would Force DEA to Allow Patients To Use Psychedelics and Marijuana
The post New Biden Proclamation Highlights Marijuana Criminalization’s Role in Blocking Education And Employment was first published on Marijuana Moment.
