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Dave Warden, a bud tender at Private Organic Therapy (P.O.T.), a non-profit co-operative medical marijuana dispensary, displays various types of marijuana available to patients on October 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: David McNew/Getty Images)
Biden's Marijuana Pardons Are a Big Deal
The immediate impacts are modest, but the order marks a top-level recognition that 100 years of cannabis prohibition were a mistake.
Oct 10, 2022
Fulfilling a high-profile campaign pledge, President Joe Biden recently announced that his office will be issuing pardons to several thousand Americans with federal convictions for marijuana possession offenses.
Why are states and cities continuing to prosecute hundreds of thousands of people every year for behavior that most Americans no longer believe ought to even be a crime?
"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," the president said. "My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions."
But almost all marijuana-related arrests are for violations of state and local laws, not federal law.
As a result, White House officials have estimated that the president's directive will bring relief to an estimated 6,500 people--only a fraction of the nearly 29 million Americans who have been arrested for marijuana violations over the past several decades.
Nevertheless, Biden's actions mark a seismic shift in the way those inside the Beltway talk and think about cannabis.
Historically relegated as a fringe political issue, Biden's foray into the arena of marijuana reform legitimizes legalization as a subject worthy of consideration--and action--by those at the highest levels of government. Further, it is a recognition--by the president of the United States, no less--that America's nearly 100-year experiment with cannabis criminalization has been an abject failure.
Indeed, the administration's actions acknowledge that arresting and criminalizing those who possess and consume marijuana does more harm than good.
This acknowledgement thus begs the question: Why are states and cities continuing to prosecute hundreds of thousands of people every year for behavior that most Americans no longer believe ought to even be a crime?
It's a valid question. And it is one that leaders in Congress now need to answer.
By making the first move, the president has amplified the pressure on Congress--and Democratic leadership in particular--to respond.
According to polling data provided by Morning Consult, nearly half of registered voters--including majorities of younger voters and Democrats--believe that repealing federal marijuana prohibition ought to be a legislative priority for Congress. Nonetheless, for far too long, elected officials--and those in the Senate in particular--have provided little more than lip service.
Specifically, Senate Chuck Schumer pledged prior to the 2020 election, "If I become majority leader, I will put this on the floor and it's likely to pass." Yet in the nearly two years since then, no stand-alone marijuana legislation has made it through the Senate to the president's desk.
But that could all now change.
By getting out in front of this issue, President Biden is now receiving well deserved attention and accolades. His actions are not only good policy--they are good politics. Polling finds that a solid majority of Americans support the expungement of criminal records for those convicted of marijuana-related possession crimes.
But ultimately the White House can't repeal or amend federal marijuana laws unilaterally. Like it or not, Congress must eventually weigh in on the issue by passing legislation.
President Biden has demonstrated that the time to do so is now. And most Americans agree.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
This column was distributed by OtherWords.
Paul Armentano
Paul Armentano is the Deputy Director of NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and co-author of the book Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink?
Fulfilling a high-profile campaign pledge, President Joe Biden recently announced that his office will be issuing pardons to several thousand Americans with federal convictions for marijuana possession offenses.
Why are states and cities continuing to prosecute hundreds of thousands of people every year for behavior that most Americans no longer believe ought to even be a crime?
"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," the president said. "My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions."
But almost all marijuana-related arrests are for violations of state and local laws, not federal law.
As a result, White House officials have estimated that the president's directive will bring relief to an estimated 6,500 people--only a fraction of the nearly 29 million Americans who have been arrested for marijuana violations over the past several decades.
Nevertheless, Biden's actions mark a seismic shift in the way those inside the Beltway talk and think about cannabis.
Historically relegated as a fringe political issue, Biden's foray into the arena of marijuana reform legitimizes legalization as a subject worthy of consideration--and action--by those at the highest levels of government. Further, it is a recognition--by the president of the United States, no less--that America's nearly 100-year experiment with cannabis criminalization has been an abject failure.
Indeed, the administration's actions acknowledge that arresting and criminalizing those who possess and consume marijuana does more harm than good.
This acknowledgement thus begs the question: Why are states and cities continuing to prosecute hundreds of thousands of people every year for behavior that most Americans no longer believe ought to even be a crime?
It's a valid question. And it is one that leaders in Congress now need to answer.
By making the first move, the president has amplified the pressure on Congress--and Democratic leadership in particular--to respond.
According to polling data provided by Morning Consult, nearly half of registered voters--including majorities of younger voters and Democrats--believe that repealing federal marijuana prohibition ought to be a legislative priority for Congress. Nonetheless, for far too long, elected officials--and those in the Senate in particular--have provided little more than lip service.
Specifically, Senate Chuck Schumer pledged prior to the 2020 election, "If I become majority leader, I will put this on the floor and it's likely to pass." Yet in the nearly two years since then, no stand-alone marijuana legislation has made it through the Senate to the president's desk.
But that could all now change.
By getting out in front of this issue, President Biden is now receiving well deserved attention and accolades. His actions are not only good policy--they are good politics. Polling finds that a solid majority of Americans support the expungement of criminal records for those convicted of marijuana-related possession crimes.
But ultimately the White House can't repeal or amend federal marijuana laws unilaterally. Like it or not, Congress must eventually weigh in on the issue by passing legislation.
President Biden has demonstrated that the time to do so is now. And most Americans agree.
Paul Armentano
Paul Armentano is the Deputy Director of NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and co-author of the book Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink?
Fulfilling a high-profile campaign pledge, President Joe Biden recently announced that his office will be issuing pardons to several thousand Americans with federal convictions for marijuana possession offenses.
Why are states and cities continuing to prosecute hundreds of thousands of people every year for behavior that most Americans no longer believe ought to even be a crime?
"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," the president said. "My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions."
But almost all marijuana-related arrests are for violations of state and local laws, not federal law.
As a result, White House officials have estimated that the president's directive will bring relief to an estimated 6,500 people--only a fraction of the nearly 29 million Americans who have been arrested for marijuana violations over the past several decades.
Nevertheless, Biden's actions mark a seismic shift in the way those inside the Beltway talk and think about cannabis.
Historically relegated as a fringe political issue, Biden's foray into the arena of marijuana reform legitimizes legalization as a subject worthy of consideration--and action--by those at the highest levels of government. Further, it is a recognition--by the president of the United States, no less--that America's nearly 100-year experiment with cannabis criminalization has been an abject failure.
Indeed, the administration's actions acknowledge that arresting and criminalizing those who possess and consume marijuana does more harm than good.
This acknowledgement thus begs the question: Why are states and cities continuing to prosecute hundreds of thousands of people every year for behavior that most Americans no longer believe ought to even be a crime?
It's a valid question. And it is one that leaders in Congress now need to answer.
By making the first move, the president has amplified the pressure on Congress--and Democratic leadership in particular--to respond.
According to polling data provided by Morning Consult, nearly half of registered voters--including majorities of younger voters and Democrats--believe that repealing federal marijuana prohibition ought to be a legislative priority for Congress. Nonetheless, for far too long, elected officials--and those in the Senate in particular--have provided little more than lip service.
Specifically, Senate Chuck Schumer pledged prior to the 2020 election, "If I become majority leader, I will put this on the floor and it's likely to pass." Yet in the nearly two years since then, no stand-alone marijuana legislation has made it through the Senate to the president's desk.
But that could all now change.
By getting out in front of this issue, President Biden is now receiving well deserved attention and accolades. His actions are not only good policy--they are good politics. Polling finds that a solid majority of Americans support the expungement of criminal records for those convicted of marijuana-related possession crimes.
But ultimately the White House can't repeal or amend federal marijuana laws unilaterally. Like it or not, Congress must eventually weigh in on the issue by passing legislation.
President Biden has demonstrated that the time to do so is now. And most Americans agree.
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