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Biden to pardon simple federal marijuana possession convictions : NPR


President Biden speaks at the White House on September 30. On Thursday, Biden announced that he was taking executive action to pardon those convicted of possession of plain marijuana under federal law and regulations. DC mode.

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President Biden speaks at the White House on September 30. On Thursday, Biden announced that he was taking executive action to pardon those convicted of possession of plain marijuana under federal law and regulations. DC mode.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty

President Biden announced on Thursday that he is taking executive action to pardon those convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law and DC statute.

The pardon will be administered through a regulatory process developed by the Justice Department, senior administration officials told reporters at a briefing, and will include citizens and permanent residents. legal.

“Putting people in jail for possession of marijuana has ended too many lives and imprisoned people for behavior that many states no longer prohibit,” Biden said in a statement.

More than 6,500 people were convicted of simple possession between 1992 and 2021 under federal law, and thousands more under DC law, officials said. Biden has promised action throughout his campaign.

However, most convictions occur at the state level, leaving pardons for each governor.

The order has five states, Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakotahas legalization measures on their ballots for November. Nineteen states have legalized marijuana for recreational use and 38 have legalized marijuana for medical use.

Biden also announced additional actions and called on governors to act

In addition to the executive order, Biden is also calling on all governors to take similar action in their states.

Biden is also asking Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice to review whether marijuana should be classified as a Schedule 1 substance under the Controlled Substances Act. According to Biden, this classification is for the most dangerous substances.

In the coming days, the DOJ will begin developing the process to issue the pardon, according to a statement from Department of Justice spokesman Anthony Coley, and will work with HHS on reviewing the drug history.

“This is the same schedule as for heroin and LSD, and even higher than the classification for fentanyl and methamphetamine — the drugs that are causing our overdose epidemic,” Biden said in a statement. .

However, the president noted that “even as federal and state marijuana regulations change, important restrictions on under-age trafficking, marketing, and sales must remain.”

The moves do not legalize the use of marijuana.

Several cannabis advocacy groups have welcomed the move. But they want the president to go further.

Kassandra Frederique, executive director of the Drug Policy Coalition, said: “However, we hope that the Biden Administration will go further and completely move cannabis away from the Controlled Substances Act. instead of starting a process that could lead to a reschedule.” “Keeping marijuana on the federal drug schedule will mean people will continue to face criminal charges for marijuana.”

GOP members, like Sen. Tom Cotton, oppose the movecalls it a blanket forgiveness and a “desperate attempt” to distract.

Some Democrats have long pushed Biden to deliver on his campaign promise. In a letter sent almost a year agoSensor. Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markeyand Jeff Merkley wrote to Biden urging him to issue a general amnesty for all federal nonviolent marijuana criminals.

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