Digital Desk: US President Joe Biden pardoned thousands of
Americans convicted of marijuana possession on Thursday, marking a significant
new step toward decriminalizing the drug and fulfilling a promise he made to
his supporters a month before the midterm elections.
"I am announcing a pardon for all previous federal offenses
of simple marijuana possession," Biden said.
Biden did not advocate for the complete legalization of
cannabis, instead stating that "limitations on trafficking, marketing, and
underage sales should remain in place."
Instead, he was charged with individual possession of a
substance that, according to government health officials, was used by at least
18% of the population in 2019 – and which is already legal in multiple states
for recreational or medical purposes.
In addition to the pardons, Biden directed the justice and
health departments to investigate whether cannabis should be reclassified as a
less dangerous substance.
According to officials, approximately 6,500 people are directly
affected by convictions under federal marijuana statutes. Clemency will be
granted to thousands more people convicted under federal laws in Washington,
D.C.
However, Biden's gesture aims to push the shift even further,
putting pressure on state governments around the country to follow suit.
"I am urging all governors to follow suit when it comes to
state offenses. No one should be in federal prison solely for possessing
marijuana, and no one should be in a local jail or state prison for the same
reason "Biden stated.
The White House announced the move abruptly via video and
written statement, with no prior buildup.
However, the impact is expected to be significant, both legally
and politically, allowing Biden to seize the narrative on a trend toward
decriminalization that has already been embraced by large swaths of the
country.
Ahead of the November 8 midterm elections, in which his
Democrats are fighting for even a sliver of control of Congress, Biden has now
met a key demand from racial justice activists outraged by the way cannabis law
enforcement frequently targets ethnic minorities.
"As I frequently stated during my presidential campaign, no
one should be imprisoned solely for using or possessing marijuana. Sending
people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended far too many lives and
incarcerated far too many people for behavior that many states no longer
prohibit "Biden stated.
He noted that non-white people are disproportionately affected
by marijuana possession convictions, which, in addition to sometimes resulting
in jail time, can result in years of legal repercussions, making it difficult
to get work and education.
The third announced measure was a directive to federal health and justice officials to "review expeditiously how marijuana is scheduled under federal law."
Currently, federal law classifies marijuana alongside far more dangerous narcotics such as heroin and LSD. It ranks higher than the relatively new – and highly addictive – drugs fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a key Biden ally fighting to keep the chamber under Democratic control in November, said the president's decision recognized that the so-called "war on drugs" has been "a war on people, particularly people of colour."
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