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Biden pardons thousands convicted of simple marijuana possession

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President Joe Biden announced he is issuing pardons to anyone convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana under federal law. The pardons also cover thousands convicted of the crime in the District of Columbia.

“There are thousands of people who are convicted for marijuana possession who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result of that conviction,” President Biden said in a video posted to the White House’s Twitter page Thursday. “My pardon will remove this burden on them.”

While the Biden administration’s pardon will affect the records of thousands of people, not one person will be released from federal prison, according to the White House. 150 people are currently in federal prison for simple possession of marijuana, but they all have other offenses that would keep them behind bars. With the announcement Thursday came a call for governors to issue similar pardons for those convicted of state marijuana offenses. If governors follow suit, then prisoners in local jails and state prisons would be released.

“I’m asking the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to initiate a process to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law,” Biden said. “Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time that we right these wrongs.”

The pardon does not cover convictions for possession of other drugs, or for charges relating to producing or possessing marijuana with an intent to distribute. Biden is also not pardoning non-citizens who were in the U.S. without legal status at the time of their arrest. The Department of Justice is also working to devise a process for those covered by Biden’s pardon to receive a certificate of pardon, which they can show to potential employers and others as needed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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THE NEWS CYCLE HAS BEEN BATTERING PRESIDENT BIDEN…
THE TIMING OF RECESSION FEARS, MIGRANT CHAOS, AND HUNTER BIDEN HEADLINES LOOM AHEAD OF MIDTERMS.
SO THE PRESIDENT IS PUTTING HIS PARTY BACK IN FAVOR WITH THEIR VOTERS…
SIGNING A SIGNIFICANT PARDON…AND FULFILLING A CAMPAIGN PROMISE.
PEOPLE WITH LOW-LEVEL MARIJUANA CONVICTIONS WILL NOW HAVE THE CHARGES WIPED CLEAN FROM THEIR RECORD.
IT’S LARGELY SEEN AS A STEP TO DE-CRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA…IT’S EXPECTED TO AFFECT THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS WITH PRIOR CONVICTIONS.
“I’m announcing a pardon for all prior federal offenses for the simple possession of marijuana. There are thousands of people who are convicted for marijuana possession who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result of that conviction. My pardon will remove this burden on them.”
NOTICE THE PRESIDENT THERE EMPHASIZED THE WORD FEDERAL OFFENSES.
MEANING PEOPLE IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR THE OFFENSE WOULD BE RELEASED…
IF THERE WERE ANYBODY IN FEDERAL PRISON TO RELEASE.
BUT ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE, NO ONE IS IN FEDERAL PRISON SOLELY FOR SIMPLE POSSESSION.
BUT BIDEN CALLED ON STATE GOVERNORS TO FOLLOW SUIT.
THAT WOULD AFFECT THOSE IN LOCAL JAILS AND STATE PRISONS.
NATIONALLY…ALREADY 40 STATES HAVE LEGALIZED MARIJUANA IN SOME CAPACITY.