Joe Biden, President of the United States, issued a proclamation on Friday expanding his marijuana pardon initiative that he started last year. This includes for the first-time people who have committed cannabis possession crimes on federal property.
Biden stated in a press release that “criminal records for marijuana possession and use have created unnecessary barriers to housing, employment and educational opportunities.” Our failed marijuana policy has ruined too many lives. “It’s time to right these wrongs.”
“No one should ever be sent to a federal prison because they used or possessed marijuana. The same goes for local jails or state prisons,” said , the president. “That’s the reason I continue to encourage governors to do so with regard to state crimes and applaud those that have taken action since.”
No one should ever be sent to a state or local prison because they used or possessed marijuana.
I urge all Governors to take the same action with regard to state-level offenses, and I applaud those that have already taken action.
President Biden December 22nd, 2023
The expanded pardon is being issued as the Drug Enforcement Administration considers a recommendation by the Department of Health and Human Services to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III. This recommendation stemmed from a study that Biden conducted last year, in conjunction with the first marijuana clemency decision.
While marijuana advocates applauded the President’s action on marijuana, critics pointed out that his cannabis pardons did not release anyone from prison, and excluded large groups, including immigrants and people with convictions for marijuana sales.
The expanded proclamation of Friday notes that, as with its predecessor, it “doesn’t apply to non-citizens who were not lawfully in the United States when their offense occurred” and doesn’t cover “possession marijuana with intent of distribution or driving offences committed while under influence of marijuana.”
The scope of the proclamation includes federal and Washington, D.C. crimes for “simple marijuana possession, attempted simple marijuana possession, or marijuana use, regardless of whether these offenses were charged or prosecuted on or before this date.” This means that it covers people who commit cannabis possession offenses after Biden’s first pardon in October 2022.
I am commuting 11 sentences that are disproportionately lengthy for non-violent drug crimes.
If they had been charged with the same crime today, all of them could have received significantly lower sentences.
President Biden (@POTUS December 22, 2020
Biden commutated 11 sentences that were long-term for drug crimes.
I have used my clemency powers more than any of my recent predecessors at this stage in their presidency. While today’s announcement is a significant step forward, my Administration will continue reviewing clemency requests and delivering reforms to advance equal justice, reduce racial inequalities, improve public safety and enhance the well-being of all Americans.
The story is developing and will be updated.
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The original post Biden Expands Marijuana pardons with New Proclamation covering Offenses on Federal Property was first published at Marijuana Moment.
