U.S. President Joe Biden to issue pardons for certain marijuana offenses, grants clemency to 11 non-violent drug offenders

President Joe Biden will sign a proclamation on Friday to issue pardons for certain marijuana offenses. This expands his previous records where Biden pardoned thousands of persons convicted of possession under federal law in the last year, according to the White House.

The White House shared that the new pardons will focus on additional offenses of simple possession and use of marijuana under federal and D.C. law. While specific details are yet to be disclosed, a White House official said that the proclamation will enclose offenses linked to, use and possession on certain Federal lands, particularly that were not addressed in the 2022 proclamation. 

In a statement, Biden says that criminal records associated with marijuana use and possession have caused unnecessary barriers for persons seeking employment, housing, and education. He acknowledged that our past approach to marijuana has had harmful effects on many lives and emphasized the need to correct these injustices. He further urged governors to follow suit by addressing state marijuana offenses and emphasized the importance of ensuring that no one send to prison just for using or possessing marijuana. The exact number of people who would benefit from these new pardons was not immediately disclosed. 

In August, the Department of Health and Human Services advised the Drug Enforcement Administration to loosen restrictions on marijuana by reclassifying it as a Schedule III drug. This would mark a major change in federal drug policy, as currently marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. While many states have legalized marijuana for recreational or medical use, it remains highly restricted at the federal level.

Additionally, on Friday, President Biden will be granting mercy to 11 person who were convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. Among them are people who have been sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for such offenses. This move reflects the administration's commitment to addressing the issues surrounding drug-related crimes and promoting criminal justice reform. 

An email from a White House official said that if the clemency recipients had been sentenced today, they would have been eligible for reduced sentences due to reforms. The official further added that this clemency grant reflects the President's dedication to rectifying unfair imbalance in sentencing.

Since assuming office, President Biden has granted clemency on multiple occasions, with the most recent occurring in April when 31 person convicted of drug-related offenses were pardoned.

During his 2020 campaign, Biden called for the automatic expungement of convictions related to cannabis use. 

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