American president, Joe Biden has decided a bold decision regarding thousands of people with federal offenses for simple marijuana possession, He has initiateded a review of how the drug is classified. “Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time that we right these wrongs,” Biden said.
Biden is pardoning thousands of people with federal offenses for simple marijuana possession. The president’s decision fulfills a campaign promise and is likely to please members in his left-leaning political base ahead of the November midterm elections in which the president’s fellow Democrats are defending control of the House of Representatives and Senate.
“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,” Biden said.
Biden said thousands of people with prior federal convictions could be denied employment, housing or educational opportunities and his executive action would relieve such “collateral” consequences.
A senior administration official said more than 6500 people with prior federal convictions could be affected by the pardons.
Nearly 40 U.S. states have legalized marijuana use in some form, but it remains completely illegal in some states and at the federal level. Reclassification would be a first step toward wider legalization, a move backed by a majority of Americans, and usher in sweeping changes for companies and law enforcement and impact millions.
