President Joe Biden pardons all federal offenses of marijuana possession. The president in regard to the issue said that thousands of people who have been convicted previously are being denied employment and housing.
President Joe Biden Pardons All Federal Offenses of Marijuana Possession
On Thursday, the president of the United States, Joe Biden pardoned all prior federal offenses of ‘simple marijuana possession.
Biden in a statement said, “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.”
The Federal Controlled Substances Act Of 1970
According to the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule 1 drug alongside LSD and heroin. States on the other hand however have their very own laws in regard to marijuana and many have made it legal for medicinal or recreational use or are gearing toward that direction.
That being said, it still means that users of marijuana in states where it is legal to use could still be breaking federal law. President Barack Obama’s administration back in 2013 issued the Cole memorandum which calls on federal authorities to defer to state authorities where jurisdictions have legalized the use of marijuana. This guidance however was rescinded in 2018 under the then president Donald Trump.
Biden’s Tweet Regarding Marijuana Possession On Thursday
Convictions that are related to marijuana have had lingering effects on many Americans over the years. On Thursday afternoon, Biden tweeted, “There are thousands of people who were previously convicted of simple possession who may be denied employment, housing or educational opportunities as a result. My pardon will remove this burden.”
The President Is Calling On Governors across the Nation to Follow Up With the New Development
The president also is calling on governors across the nation to pardon state offenses for the possession of marijuana and he is also asking for a review of how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.
And at the moment before the senate is the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, which has the ability to end the federal ban.
