A good start, but all MJ prisoners should be pardoned! after all, cannabis is LESS dangerous than common aspirin! An overdose of aspirin can kill a person, yet even the DEA admits - “No death from overdose of marijuana has been reported.” https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Marijuana-Cannabis-2020_0.pdf Biden announces pardons for thousands with federal marijuana possession convictions Biden announces pardons for thousands with federal marijuana possession convictions Dylan Stableford ·Senior Writer Thu, October 6, 2022 at 12:54 PM President Biden, pictured here delivering remarks in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on Thursday, announced he was pardoning thousands of Americans for federal marijuana possession convictions. (Tom Brenner/Reuters) President Biden on Thursday announced that he is pardoning thousands of people who have federal convictions for “simple possession” of marijuana, part of what his administration is calling a three-step plan to ending the country’s “failed approach” to criminalizing the drug. “As I often said during my campaign for President, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana,” Biden said in a statement. “Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit. Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. And while white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates.” Biden said he has directed Attorney General Merrick Garland to develop an administrative process to issue the pardons to eligible individuals, of which there are an estimated 6,500. “There are thousands of people who have prior federal convictions for marijuana possession, who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result,” Biden said. “My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions.” The president is urging governors in all 50 states to do the same. (snipped) Granny
Good news to hear… It’s a small crack in a large wall, but it is a sign of the old wall of ignorance crumbing… Might yet live to see cannabis possession legalized at the federal level… Hopefully at least a few states will follow his example?
The CEO's and other principles, investors, etc. of the countless FOR PROFIT "private prisons" likely swallowed their teeth if they saw a headline similar... Yes, us taxpayers foot the bill for their PROFIT and one reason so many are put away is they are worth so much locked up to profiteers. However, just loitering on the street selling individual cigs (tobacco) to get some food, these guys are not worth a dime... These vultures are involved with housing immigrants without papers too is my understanding.