U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he has granted amnesty for those convicted of possession of marijuana to use under a new plan he calls “marijuana reform”.
In a written statement, US President Joe Biden announced the new plan, which he called “marijuana reform”. Reminding that he has repeatedly stated that no one should go to jail just for using or possessing marijuana, Biden said, “Putting people in jail for possession of marijuana has turned a lot of lives upside down. Criminal records for possession of cannabis have also placed unnecessary barriers to employment, housing and education opportunities.”
Biden said that black people are disproportionately arrested for this crime more than white people and said, “I am announcing three steps I have taken to end this unsuccessful approach.”
Announcing an amnesty for all federal crimes convicted of possession of marijuana for use in the first place, Biden said, “I have instructed the Attorney General to develop an administrative process for issuing amnesty certificates to eligible individuals. There are thousands of people who have federal convictions for marijuana possession and may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. “My action will help alleviate the secondary consequences resulting from these convictions.”
Call to governors
Secondly, he called on all governors to issue amnesty as well. “Just as no one should be in federal prison just for possession of marijuana, so no one should be in a local jail or state prison,” Biden said.
Classification of marijuana to be revised
Thirdly, Biden stated that he instructed the Ministry of Health to review the classification that marijuana is in the same category as heroin and LSD. “This is the same schedule as heroin and LSD, and even higher than the classification of fentanyl and methamphetamine, the drugs that triggered our epidemic of overdose.”
“So many lives have been turned upside down because of our failing approach”
Noting that even as federal and state regulations on marijuana change, significant restrictions on smuggling, marketing and underage sales must remain in place, Biden said, “So many lives have been turned upside down because of our failed approach to marijuana. The time has come for us to right these wrongs.”
