The President of the United States, Joe Biden has called for the laws regarding the possession of marijuana to be reviewed.
Biden noted that he will pardon all prior offenses relating to possession of marijuana.
In a Twitter thread posted on his official Twitter handle, Biden said those convicted of marijuana possession in the past will no longer be deprived of job opportunities.
He called on Attorney General, Merrick B. Garland and Secretary of Health, Xavier Becerra to act accordingly.
The tweet read, “As I’ve said before, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana.
“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.
“Second: I’m calling on governors to pardon simple state marijuana possession offenses. Just as no one should be in a federal prison solely for possessing marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either. Third: We classify marijuana at the same level as heroin – and more serious than fentanyl. It makes no sense.
“I’m asking Xavier Becerra and the Attorney General to initiate the process of reviewing how marijuana is scheduled under federal law. I’d also like to note that as federal and state regulations change, we still need important limitations on trafficking, marketing, and underage sales of marijuana.
“Sending people to jail for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives – for conduct that is legal in many states. That’s before you address the clear racial disparities around prosecution and conviction. Today, we begin to right these wrongs.
