U.S. News
Biden pardons thousands convicted of federal marijuana possession [Video]
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- President Joe Biden has granted pardons for those federally convicted of marijuana possession.
- The pardons will help thousands whose convictions had hindered them from employment and housing, but will only free a few from prison.
- The number of people imprisoned for simple drug possession has dwindled over the years.
Thousands of Americans who were federally convicted of marijuana possession have now been pardoned by President Joe Biden.
The president made the announcement in a Twitter thread and a video released by the White House on Thursday.
Biden reiterated his previous statements that “no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana.”
The president aims to help thousands whose past convictions hindered them from employment and housing. However, the pardon will free only a few from prison.
The number of convictions and incarcerations for marijuana offenses has been in a decreasing trend throughout the years.
The United States Sentencing Commission reported that only 149 people convicted of simple marijuana possession were in federal prison during the fiscal year 2021, which ended last June. By comparison, that number reached over 2,000 in the fiscal year 2015.
There were 267 federal convictions for simple marijuana possession in 1997 and 160 in 2007. After the fiscal year 2017, which only had 92 incarcerations, the federal agency stopped reporting the numbers.
The vast majority of those imprisoned for marijuana offenses were convicted of trafficking, with 1,005 people in federal prison for the offense during the fiscal year 2021. In 2015, there were nearly 3,500.
Trafficking is also the conviction for the overwhelming majority of those in federal prison for drug offenses, including those involving heroin and cocaine. Most recently reported, the 17,608 people convicted of drug trafficking makes up about 30% of all federal prisoners. Only about 300 people (just 0.5% of the total prison population) are in prison for any sort of drug possession.
Criminal justice reform advocates acknowledged that the pardons will change thousands of lives and could signal a broader, bipartisan shift away from incarceration for cannabis. However, they are still calling for more actions to right the wrongs of the war on drugs.
Kevin Ring, president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, told Insider that “it’s hard to get some things done, especially on criminal justice,” since the Congress has “gotten so politicized.”
Since the vast majority of those imprisoned for drug possession are for state offenses, Biden called on governors to give similar pardons.
Ring hopes that the president continues to use “clemency authority in a smart way like this.”
Source: Insider
Janie Falgout
October 7, 2022 at 6:47 pm
Dementia Joe is wrong to pardon as he did. Is he getting ready to pardon Hunter for his drug abuse?
Gary Jones
October 7, 2022 at 6:55 pm
What about the THOUSANDS of people kicked out of the military for simple possession? Is he going to pardon them all, give them honourable discharges?
Sean Rickman
October 7, 2022 at 6:57 pm
Well sloppy joey,it WILL come back to bite you and also I hope that gas prices go to ten dollars a gallon and that will get rid of anti AMERICAN democRATS.You,as dumb as you are about AMERICAS need to make AMERICA energy independent really need to step up and make AMERICA first,SCREW your unreliable electric vehicles,your “A”hole buddies have reaped enough on their alternative energy investments.Its long past time to think about the real AMERICA and its citizens before we go:BELLY UP”with the democRATS in charge,which are totally stupid,or maybe making self serving decision’s.
D.D.
October 7, 2022 at 8:40 pm
He should let them go with the stipulation that they tell the authorities where they got the pit they were caught with…
ox
October 7, 2022 at 9:04 pm
Lying Corrupt Quid Pro KING Joe expects a return on his investment. Corrupt Quid Pro expects these pardons to generate Democrat votes. There is not enough pot-heads in jail to sway an election, Corrupt Quid Pro would have to empty the jails. This is no different when Cuomo of NY and McAuliffe of VA, restoring the voting rights of convicted felons, just before the presidential election between corrupt Hillary and Trump.
Chastran
October 7, 2022 at 11:12 pm
Hunter asked him to pardon them as drugs are becoming harder to find…
r w
October 8, 2022 at 1:29 am
Buying votes!…AGAIN!
RSM4
October 8, 2022 at 2:42 am
Of course, Dems and the MSM always frame the convictions as “simple MJ possession.” They make it sound like a police officer just happened spot 18 year old Bobbie with a sandwich bag of MJ sticking out of his pocket. Actually, these are people who were bulk dealers. When they were arrested, they managed to plead to lesser charges. Charges wiped away were often for assaults, robberies and other violent crimes. Even if the person convicted did nt commit violent crimes, someone in their crew did. So, Dems and the MSM try to make it sound like there was no violent crime around.
When MJ permeates a neighborhood or state, it spawns all the crimes that go with it. It is not addictive in the same way as meth or heroin, but users are happy to commit a variety of crimes to get the money to buy it. That leads to burglaries, shoplifting, muggings, etc. Traffic accidents cased by high drivers sky rocket as well.
stilmistmcl
October 10, 2022 at 10:05 am
Great points.
Leslie
October 8, 2022 at 1:03 pm
Harris & Obama put all those people in prison in 2015. The number is down because their not in the position to keep imprisoning them.
These people didn’t deserve to be in prison, after a hard days work putting people in prison, Harris would go home and unwind with a joint!! Hypocrite Bitch!!
Now corporations are growing the pot, they only care about quantity so their quality is going to shit!! They also get water and electric while the people of the state of California have to cut their use and conserve!
Betty
October 8, 2022 at 2:42 pm
Sorry this impacts zero people. There are simply no federal convictions for this.
John Miller
October 10, 2022 at 8:13 am
Is this happening while Federal Law still deems the weed illegal?
stilmistmcl
October 10, 2022 at 10:01 am
Do we now have more insight into the reason for Hunter’s lack of self-control, something that most of us learned while growing up with dutiful parents? Did he ever have any consequences to his behavior, or was everything just overlooked and dismissed?
D.D.
October 11, 2022 at 7:16 pm
PLEEEEEASE ! If the government really cared about these and other illnesses they would realize that the major influx of nearly every dangerous disease is also coming across the southern border !!!