US President Joe Biden to pardon thousands for Simple Ganja Posession

WASHINGTON DC, October 6, 2022 -  United States President Joe Biden has announced that he is taking dramatic steps to change federal marijuana laws and provide relief to America's drug war victims by initiating the largest fereral pardon in 25 years for simple posession of ganja/marijuana.

Biden says he  is initiating an administrative review of federal marijuana scheduling, and will be granting mass pardons for federal cannabis possession convictions while calling on governors to do the same for state-level convictions.

“As I often said during my campaign for President, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana.  Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit. 

As I’ve said before, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana.

Today, I’m taking steps to end our failed approach. Allow me to lay them out.

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 6, 2022

“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,” Biden declared.

The US President said “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.”

Biden also announced that: “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.”

Today, President Biden pardoned all prior federal and D.C. offenses of simple marijuana possession.@POTUS also called on governors to pardon simple state marijuana possession offenses. pic.twitter.com/PGhVwuruKJ

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 6, 2022

In a statement from the White House the US president said: I am asking the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to initiate the administrative process to review expeditiously how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.  Federal law currently classifies marijuana in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, the classification meant for the most dangerous substances.  This is the same schedule as for heroin and LSD, and even higher than the classification of fentanyl and methamphetamine – the drugs that are driving our overdose epidemic.”

He cautioned however, that: “even as federal and state regulation of marijuana changes, important limitations on trafficking, marketing, and under-age sales should stay in place.Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana.  It’s time that we right these wrongs,” President Biden concluded