President Joe Biden announced last week that his administration would be pardoning those convicted for simple marijuana possession under federal law and called upon governors across the nation to follow his lead in their states, the Dallas Observer reported.
Following Biden’s announcement, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke tweeted, “When I’m governor, we will finally legalize marijuana in Texas and expunge the records of those arrested for marijuana possession.”
“As I’ve said before, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana,” Biden tweeted on October 6. “Today, I’m taking steps to end our failed approach. Allow me to lay them out. First: I’m pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession. There are thousands of people who were previously convicted of simple possession who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My pardon will remove this burden.”
Biden noted that incarceration over marijuana possession has upended American lives and asked the Attorney General to review how marijuana is currently classified under federal law.
A spokesperson for Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Renae Eze, issued a statement saying that Abbott had no plans to follow the president’s request for pardons on a state or local level, Chron reported.
“Texas is not in the habit of taking criminal justice advice from the leader of the defund police party and someone who has overseen a criminal justice system run amuck with cashless bail and a revolving door for violent criminals,” the statement reads. “The Governor of Texas can only pardon individuals who have been through the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles system with a recommendation for pardon.”
In Biden’s online statements, he mentioned that brown and Black people are more likely to be incarcerated for marijuana-related charges, the Dallas Observer reported. “Sending people to jail for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives – for conduct that is legal in many states,” Biden said on Twitter. “That’s before you address the clear racial disparities around prosecution and conviction. Today, we begin to right these wrongs.”
In Dallas last year, the Police Department announced that it would no longer press charges for possession of small amounts of marijuana. Other cities in the North Texas region have implemented similar measures, according to the Dallas Observer. These cities include Plano and Fort Worth.
Dallas Police Department Chief Eddie Garcia said at the time that he was not concerned with small quantities of marijuana. “Those small amounts, those don’t excite me. Arresting individuals that are victimizing our city, that excites me. Getting drug dealers excites me,” Garcia told the Dallas Observer.
The City of Denton will let voters decide on decriminalizing marijuana in the November ballot. This would mean police could not arrest people or issue citations for misdemeanor-level marijuana possession.
Biden noted on Twitter that as regulations regarding marijuana change across the country, there will need to be limitations introduced around underage sales, marketing, and trafficking.
