The issue of marijuana possession has been a point of contention when it comes to federal laws in some states. The United States approves marijuana aka cannabis usage for recreational and medicinal purposes. However, there is no complete legalization and some states still do not legally allow the possession of cannabis. Well, President Joe Biden gives relief by issuing pardons to the convicts of marijuana possession.
The economic advantage of the plant has been in billions. As per Statista, the recreational cannabis industry may surpass $25 billion by 2025. The Biden administration is inching closer to the promise made in 2020 to the people of America to decriminalize the drug. Now, the President has announced the charged convicts are to be freed from the allegations.
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“It’s Time That We Right These Wrongs”: Joe Biden Pardons Marijuana Convicts
Ahead of the midterm elections, the President has taken an important decision regarding marijuana. On Thursday, he announced that all the convicts who were convicted of possessing marijuana shall be free from the allegations.
He released a thread of statements on Twitter in which he said, “As I said when I ran for president, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana. It’s legal in many states, and criminal records for marijuana possession have led to needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities.”
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.
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 6, 2022
He took the step to secure the rights of brown and black people: “And that’s before you address the racial disparities around who suffers the consequences. While white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people are arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates.”
The decision will free 6,500 convicts of marijuana possession from 1992 to 2021. In 2022, marijuana is legalized in 38 states in the U.S. Biden, in his address, urged the governors of the remaining states to implement the pardon for state convicts. The President has also urged the Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Attorney General Merrick Garland to review the classification status of cannabis under federal law. He added, “Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time that we right these wrongs.”
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Twitterati Gleefully Welcome President’s Decision
There are many bills in the pipeline that brings the administration closer to making marijuana a federally legal drug. Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) will help recreational businesses to have federal authorization. Hoping the other laws come into play, Twitter is currently rejoicing the Biden administration’s decision:
👍
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 6, 2022
well… this is huge. holy shit. I was already voting for you but damn. just… damn. well played Mr President.
— Confushon (@xConfushon) October 6, 2022
Hallelujah! It's about time.
Pot is NOT A GATEWAY DRUG.
It's far less dangerous than alcohol & offers many medicinal benefits for those in pain, dealing with cancer treatments, or epilepsy, et al.— MB Ruva (@RuvaMb) October 6, 2022
Thank you! And hopefully Democrats keep the House, increase Senate so we can legalize marijuana on a federal level.
— Jodie💙🌊 (@JodieHMoss) October 6, 2022
This is huge – LONG overdue – and brought to you exclusively by Democrats who vote.
— Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) October 6, 2022
