news Biden expands pardons for marijuana possession and grants clemency to 11

[Stimulus]

Biden expands pardons for marijuana possession and grants clemency to 11

NPR / Deepa Shivaram / December 22, 2023

 

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President Biden issued a wide-reaching proclamation Friday that further pardons people who have certain convictions related to marijuana under federal and D.C. law.

 

The pardon builds on actions Biden took last year on pardons related to simple possession of marijuana. A White House official said this new proclamation expands those actions by issuing pardons for things like the offense of use and possession on certain federal lands.

 

The pardon encompasses U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who committed or were convicted of simple possession, attempted simple possession or use of marijuana — regardless of whether the offender had been charged or prosecuted yet.

 

The proclamation does not include pardons for offenses such as possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, or driving offenses committed while under the influence of marijuana.

 

The pardon Biden issued does not apply to state convictions. In a statement, the president encouraged governors to take action on marijuana laws in their own states.

 

Statement from President Joe Biden on Clemency Actions

The White House / December 22, 2023

 

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First, I am commuting the sentences of 11 people who are serving disproportionately long sentences for non-violent drug offenses. All of them would have been eligible to receive significantly lower sentences if they were charged with the same offense today.
 
Second, following my pardon of prior federal and D.C. offenses of simple possession of marijuana, I am issuing a Proclamation that will pardon additional offenses of simple possession and use of marijuana under federal and D.C. law. Criminal records for marijuana use and possession have imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana.  It’s time that we right these wrongs. 

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by Stimulus
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[TOKYO.]

PROGRESSIVE!!

[Cesar]

the bare-minimum but yasss

[feelslikeadream]

"First, I am commuting the sentences of 11 people who are serving disproportionately long sentences for non-violent drug offenses. All of them would have been eligible to receive significantly lower sentences if they were charged with the same offense today."

 

I'm shocked this logic only applies to 11 people.

[Uncatena]

a desperate attempt from genocide joe to get young people back on his side. happy for the people who will get freed from unnecessary incarceration though!

[Danny789]

Isn’t his Crime bill the reason for mass incarceration and over sentencing in the first place?

 

Quote

The law imposed tougher prison sentences at the federal level and encouraged states to do the same. It provided funds for states to build more prisons, aimed to fund 100,000 more cops, and backed grant programs that encouraged police officers to carry out more drug-related arrests — an escalation of the war on drugs.

 

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/6/20/18677998/joe-biden-1994-crime-bill-law-mass-incarceration

Edited December 22, 2023 by Danny789

[GhostBox]

This is great news. Needs to go further but it’s a great start 👏🏼

[AMIT]

not good enough, legalize it or BUST 

[Katamari]

cant he just make it legal 

[Bears01]

15 minutes ago, AMIT said:

not good enough, legalize it or BUST 

 

13 minutes ago, Katamari said:

cant he just make it legal 

This is a bare minimum move from a bare minimum president, but to be fair, I think this has to happen through congress 

[Communion]

1 hour ago, feelslikeadream said:

"First, I am commuting the sentences of 11 people who are serving disproportionately long sentences for non-violent drug offenses. All of them would have been eligible to receive significantly lower sentences if they were charged with the same offense today."

 

I'm shocked this logic only applies to 11 people.

Because he is doing it only for people charged on federal property. 

 

 

 

[Kamil24]

How is owning a literal plant still illegal there?

[Tropez]

4 minutes ago, Kamil24 said:

How is owning a literal plant still illegal there?

The US is a country with no logic. Just nod your head and move on. 

[chessguy99]

3 hours ago, Katamari said:

cant he just make it legal 

No. There is language specifically written into the the controlled substance act that makes changing  the category of a controlled substance a very cumbersome process. 

[DAP]

6 hours ago, ChapelHooker said:

a desperate attempt from genocide joe to get young people back on his side. happy for the people who will get freed from unnecessary incarceration though!

Which is a grand total of zero

 

 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/thousands-convicted-of-marijuana-charges-on-federal-lands-and-in-washington-to-receive-pardons

 

[karron0624]

6 hours ago, Danny789 said:

Isn’t his Crime bill the reason for mass incarceration and over sentencing in the first place?

 

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/6/20/18677998/joe-biden-1994-crime-bill-law-mass-incarceration

Biden is literally the reason for the current marijuana situation, student debt situation, and immigration situation because he signed all those laws. Its why he lost the presidency twice and quite frankly should have lost the third time in the primary.

[Communion]

9 hours ago, Katamari said:

cant he just make it legal 

 

6 hours ago, chessguy99 said:

No. There is language specifically written into the the controlled substance act that makes changing  the category of a controlled substance a very cumbersome process. 

Spoiler: Biden himself gets to hand pick the head of the DEA who then says yes or no to him via the AG requesting to reschedule marijuana. 

 

After being inaugurated, Biden picked someone with a hard on weed record. 

[ZeroSuitBritney]

Even a genocidal broken senile clock is right once every 7 months