US President pardons thousands convicted of marijuana possession
The pardons will clear about 6,500 people who were convicted on federal charges of simple possession of marijuana from 1992 to 2021 and thousands more who were convicted of possession in the District of Columbia, officials said ahead of the president’s announcement.
White House officials said the president is making the move to fulfill a campaign promise as efforts in Congress to address the issue have stalled.
"As I often said during my campaign for president, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana," Biden said. "Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit."
Biden said the "collateral consequences" of convictions for marijuana possession include being denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities.
Black & brown people convicted @ disproportionate rates- Biden
He also said Black and brown people have been arrested and convicted at disproportionate rates despite using marijuana at similar rates as white people.
The Justice Department will issue certificates of pardons to those eligible. That process will begin implementation "in coming days," according to department spokesman Anthony Coley.
The pardons will apply to those convicted under the District of Columbia’s drug laws, which covers “thousands” more people, according to the White House.
Mr Biden urged governors to follow his lead for people convicted on state charges of simple possession.
UK refuses to assent VI's marijuana legislation
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, via the Governor's Office, has refused to assent to legislation debated and passed in the [British] Virgin Islands House of Assembly (HoA) to allow the territory to reap revenue from medicinal marijuana.
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