President Joe Biden has recently granted a pardon to all individuals charged with minor federal marijuana offenses.
This significant decision was disclosed in a public statement on Friday morning, titled “Granting Pardon for the Offense of Simple Possession of Marijuana, Attempted Simple Possession of Marijuana, or Use of Marijuana.”
The declaration specifies that the pardon covers those who have breached federal regulations related to “simple possession of marijuana or attempted simple possession of marijuana,” analogous statutes in Washington, DC, or for “simple possession or use of marijuana on Federal properties or installations.”
President Biden stated in the proclamation, “This action is solely intended to pardon the offenses of simple possession of marijuana, attempted simple possession of marijuana, or use of marijuana in contravention of the Federal and D.C. statutes.”
Biden highlighted that “convictions for simple possession of marijuana have created unnecessary obstacles in securing jobs, housing, and educational chances.”
This pardon excludes all non-American citizens and individuals in the country without official federal authorization.
The announcement on Friday marks a continuation of the president’s efforts, following a previous pardon over a year ago for those who “committed the offense of simple possession of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act.”
Notwithstanding these recent pardons related to marijuana, Biden’s administration dismissed a number of staff members at the beginning of his term, partly due to their cannabis consumption.
In March 2021, then-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki disclosed that the Biden Administration had terminated five employees due to past drug use, including marijuana, following a press conference that came a day after a Daily Beast report about the disciplining of numerous White House staff who admitted past marijuana use.
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