Biden pardons thousands convicted of marijuana possession under federal law
President Biden will pardon thousands of Americans convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana under federal law in a dramatic step toward decriminalizing the drug.
“No one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana,” Biden said.
Decrying longtime practices in the so-called war on drugs that have disproportionately targeted people of color, Biden on Thursday also called on governors to issue similar pardons for possession of weed.
“Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana,” Biden said. “It’s time that we right these wrongs.”
President Joe Biden (MANDEL NGAN/)
Biden said many otherwise law-abiding Americans are locked out of jobs, housing and even educational opportunities due to minor marijuana possession convictions.
“My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions,” he said.
Biden is also directing the secretary of Health and Human Services and the U.S. attorney general to review how marijuana is considered under federal drug laws. Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD, but ahead of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Rev. Al Sharpton, the president of the National Action Network, said Biden’s “righteous action today will give countless Americans their lives back.” But he added, “The United States will never justly legalize marijuana until it reckons with the outdated policies that equated thousands of young Black men with hardened drug pushers.”
Members of New York’s congressional delegation also cheered the change in policy, as well as the pardons.
“For far too long, the federal prohibition on cannabis ... has been a war on people, and particularly people of color,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). “President Biden’s action to pardon people convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law is a huge step forward to correct decades of over-criminalization.”
Rep. Jamal Bowman (D-N.Y.) tweeted that Biden’s action “brings us one step closer to restoring justice and humanity for people convicted of something so trivial.”
Federal pardons for people convicted of marijuana possession brings us one step closer to restoring justice and humanity for people convicted of something so trivial.
Next we need to deschedule marijuana and make the marijuana industry more accessible!— Jamaal Bowman Ed.D (@JamaalBowmanNY) October 6, 2022
The pardon does not cover convictions for possession of other drugs, or for charges relating to producing or possessing marijuana with an intent to distribute. Biden is also not pardoning non-citizens who were in the U.S. without legal status at the time of their arrest.
Republicans were not as pleased with the change in policy and accused Biden of deflecting attention from the troubled economy and public safety.
Sen. Tom Cotton from Arkansas tweeted: “In the midst of a crime wave and on the brink of a recession, Joe Biden is giving blanket pardons to drug offenders—many of whom pled down from more serious charges. This is a desperate attempt to distract from failed leadership.”
With Michael McAuliff
