WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden took executive action on Thursday to change US marijuana policy, forgiving all federal offenses simple marijuana possession.
“There are thousands of people who have previous federal convictions for possession of marijuana, who may be denied employment, housing or educational opportunities as a result,” Biden said in a statement. “My action will help mitigate the collateral consequences arising from these convictions.”
Biden’s actions fulfill a campaign promise and are likely to appeal to members of his left-leaning political base ahead of November’s midterm elections in which Biden’s fellow Democrats are defending their control of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Biden said he ordered the attorney general Merrick Garland develop an “administrative process” to issue pardon certificates to those who qualify.
The president also said he was urging state governors to follow suit.
“Just as no one should be in federal prison solely for possessing marijuana, no one should be in local jail or state prison for that reason either,” he said.
Biden said he is asking federal officials to begin a process to review how marijuana is “scheduled” or classified under federal law. Currently, it falls under the same classification as heroin and LSD and a higher classification than fentanyl and methamphetamine, he said.
“Finally, even as federal and state marijuana regulations change, significant limitations on underage trafficking, marketing and sales should remain in place,” Biden said.
“Too many lives have been disrupted because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time we righted those wrongs.”
“There are thousands of people who have previous federal convictions for possession of marijuana, who may be denied employment, housing or educational opportunities as a result,” Biden said in a statement. “My action will help mitigate the collateral consequences arising from these convictions.”
Biden’s actions fulfill a campaign promise and are likely to appeal to members of his left-leaning political base ahead of November’s midterm elections in which Biden’s fellow Democrats are defending their control of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Biden said he ordered the attorney general Merrick Garland develop an “administrative process” to issue pardon certificates to those who qualify.
The president also said he was urging state governors to follow suit.
“Just as no one should be in federal prison solely for possessing marijuana, no one should be in local jail or state prison for that reason either,” he said.
Biden said he is asking federal officials to begin a process to review how marijuana is “scheduled” or classified under federal law. Currently, it falls under the same classification as heroin and LSD and a higher classification than fentanyl and methamphetamine, he said.
“Finally, even as federal and state marijuana regulations change, significant limitations on underage trafficking, marketing and sales should remain in place,” Biden said.
“Too many lives have been disrupted because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time we righted those wrongs.”
