In a move that could eventually pave the way for decriminalization, the Biden administration announced it is pardoning all Americans convicted of federal offenses of simple marijuana possession. The move will impact no less than 6,500 individuals.
Supporters of the President will be encouraged that the administration appears to be moving closer to his campaign pledge of decriminalization. Detractors will point to the announcement’s timing ahead of the November elections, which will determine control of Congress.
“This is a historic step that will change so many people’s lives. No one should be in federal prison for simple marijuana possession, but we need to do more to catch federal laws up to Washington state’s laws when it comes to legalizing cannabis. I’ll keep pushing on this,” Tweeted Democratic Senator Patty Murray.
On the other end of the spectrum, Republican Senator Tom Cotton also took to Twitter, declaring, “Once again, Biden’s response to record overdose deaths and murders is to be softer towards crime.”
During the announcement, the President urged governors to enact similar measures within their states. Such a move would affect many more thousands of Americans. Moreover, with marijuana accounting for up to half of all drug arrests nationwide, the move could help free up severely needed state resources.
While Biden is not known to be an enthusiastic supporter of softer marijuana laws, he believes the status quo is unfair. “It’s legal in many states, and criminal records for marijuana possession have led to needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities,” the President stated.
As it stands, marijuana exists in a complicated web of overlapping federal and state laws. While the substance is illegal at the federal level, and classified as a Schedule 1 drug, at the state level, the story is varied. In recent years, many states have moved to legalize medical, and in some cases recreational, marijuana use. Other states have maintained existing laws prohibiting the substance.
Those with possession charges weren’t the only ones happy with the news. The markets reacted favorably, with some cannabis stocks experiencing double-digit gains. Canopy Growth saw its shares skyrocket 22% on the announcement. According to David Culver, the company’s vice president of government relations, “Today represents action from the Administration that we have been waiting for – an acknowledgment that cannabis prohibition has failed and that too many lives have been significantly impacted as a result.”
While many welcomed the announcement, the timing of implementation remains a mystery. No one from the Biden administration has confirmed a date the pardon will take place.
Pardons will be issued via certificate delivered by the Justice Department. Though no Americans currently serve time in prison for federal offenses of simple marijuana possession alone, thousands will be impacted by the President’s decree.      Â
