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President Joe Biden is taking his first major steps toward decriminalizing marijuana, fulfilling a campaign pledge to erase prior federal possession convictions and beginning the process of loosening federal classification of the drug.
Biden on Thursday will pardon all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession, a move that senior administration officials said would affect thousands of Americans.
“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.”
He will also encourage governors to take similar steps to pardon state simple marijuana possession charges, and will task the Department of Health and Human Services and Attorney General Merrick Garland to “expeditiously” review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.
It's a good start. I just voted for measure 27 today... and I voted for the democrat candidate for governor Jamie smith. In the end I used a coin toss, and he won both tosses.
I voted for republicans and independents across the rest of the ticket to balance things out. Kristi Noem did 3 things to annoy me: Sued to nullify Amendment A, mailing attack ads on Smith in the mail that are largely crap, and now making promises to eliminate the food tax, promises she can't keep. Her trickery does not go unnoticed by me... whereas I might have voted for her before the last two mentioned items, I opted to do the coin toss, and Smith won.
If Smith wins, at least I don't have to worry about her suing to nullify another voter passed marijuana legalization amendment, or vetoing any future passed legislation. I like gridlock, because I largely dislike both political parties, I just dislike the left more.
So even though marijuana is still illegal at the Federal Level, and is still a Schedule I drug, he is going to Pardon anyone conflicted with Simple marijuana possession.
Is he also now going to direct Federal Prosecutors to stop charging people with these crimes, or is it going to be a Rubber Stamp that once you get Convicted you also get Pardoned?
Seems like "Executive Order" Biden is putting the Cart before the Horse.
Federal sentencing implies that the person was any of the following: transporting this product across state lines. Selling it in various states. Consuming it and profiting from it ..all free in clear of the uncle Sam Cut.
Not a fan of this nod to mj dealers, and profiteers from drug deals. Particularly when minors were used to sell.
Do the time. We are becoming permissive and dismissive of illegal activities...
One of the few things Biden has done that has my complete approval.
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