U.S. President Joe Biden grants full pardons to all individuals who have been convicted of marijuana possession under the country's federal law.
President Biden made the decision Thursday, which is one of the biggest moves made by a sitting president in regards to national drug laws.
"First, I am announcing a pardon of all prior Federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana. I have directed the Attorney General to develop an administrative process for the issuance of certificates of pardon to eligible individuals. There are thousands of people who have prior Federal convictions for marijuana possession, who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions," President Biden announced.
In the same statement, President Joe Biden said that this action is overdue to the fact that many states don't even prohibit the use of this particular drug as of today.
“Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit,” Biden said in a statement. “Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. And while white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates,” Mr. Biden said in a statement on Thursday.
However, the President isn't stopping there, as he now urges that this should be viewed at the federal level by state Governors.
"Second, I am urging all Governors to do the same with regard to state offenses. Just as no one should be in a Federal prison solely due to the possession of marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either," the president added.
