Vice President Kamala Harris said the move by the Obama administration to pardon those who have committed federal marijuana possession crimes is an example of what it can do for Americans. This is especially true for young voters and Blacks, who are likely to be crucial to President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign this year.
Harris was asked by Gray DC about the importance of Black youth votes for the Biden and Harris campaign. She said that reaching this demographic was important and that cannabis clemency should be a unique appeal.
Harris stated that “another issue is what we did to pardon thousands of people who were charged with simple marijuana possession in violation of federal law. Because, frankly, no one should be sent to prison for smoking pot.”
She added: “These are some of the things we’ve done that really resonate with young people. With Black voters and young Black Voters, with young Black Men.” She also mentioned efforts to increase access high-speed internet, and to fund historically Black colleges. “And there’s still more to be done.”
The Justice Department estimates 13,000 people were pardoned by the executive order. While Harris claimed “tens” of thousands had been pardoned, it is estimated that only about 13,000 individuals have received relief.
The pardons have been the subject of inflated rhetoric, and Biden has often exaggerated the effect by falsely claiming that people had been released from prison for marijuana possession or that criminal records had been expunged. A pardon is a formal forgiveness. No one who has received a pardon had been incarcerated for simple possession.
As many advocates have pointed out, there are still some people in federal prison for other non-violent marijuana crimes. They have urged the Biden administration do more. This includes keeping his cannabis campaign promise to decriminalize pot.
The Justice Department has requested White House approval for to update its data-collection process in relation to the marijuana pardon certificates it is issuing as part of the expanded clemency announcement by the President.
The administration wants to provide individuals with the opportunity to obtain a formal pardon if they so desire. The Justice Department opened the updated applications quickly and began issuing certificates.
The White House has taken very little action on marijuana reform to date. While Biden ran for marijuana decriminalization and Harris sponsored federal marijuana legislation during her tenure in the Senate.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has suggested moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of Controlled Substances Act. Now, it is up to the Drug Enforcement Administration to make the final decision.
Biden seems to be aware of the popularity of marijuana reform by promoting his pardon of all cannabis and review of scheduling. A recent poll shows that he will gain a lot of popularity if his directive on scheduling results in a federal reclassification.
The study found that the impression that voters had of President increased by a net of 11 points when they heard about the potential implications of the rescheduling evaluation. This includes a favorable swing of 11 points among young voters aged 18-25, who are critical for his reelection campaign.
Rapper Killer Mike Suggestions Giving Black People Control Of Marijuana As A Form of Reparations
Photo element provided by California Attorney General’s Office.
The post Kamala Harris touts marijuana pardons in pitch to black and young voters, saying ‘nobody’ should be jailed for’smoking weed’ first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
