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Biden to pardon federal marijuana convictions Biden to pardon federal marijuana convictions
(about 3 hours later)
President Joe Biden is issuing an executive order pardoning all Americans who have been federally convicted of "simple possession of marijuana". President Joe Biden is issuing an executive order pardoning all Americans who have been federally convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana.
The move will only affect a relatively small number of marijuana convictions since most occur at the state level. The move will only affect a relatively small number of cannabis convictions since most occur at the state level.
Mr Biden's announcement stops short of a full decriminalisation of cannabis, which he promised as a presidential candidate. Mr Biden's announcement stops short of a full decriminalisation of pot, which he promised as a presidential candidate.
Recent polls show that a majority of Americans believe weed should be legal.Recent polls show that a majority of Americans believe weed should be legal.
"Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit," Mr Biden said in a statement on Thursday."Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit," Mr Biden said in a statement on Thursday.
"Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing and educational opportunities," he continued, adding that racial minorities were statistically far more likely to be jailed for cannabis. He added that racial minorities were statistically far more likely to be jailed for cannabis.
As a White House candidate, Mr Biden was criticised for writing a 1994 crime bill that stiffened penalties for drug crimes and led to more incarceration of racial minorities.As a White House candidate, Mr Biden was criticised for writing a 1994 crime bill that stiffened penalties for drug crimes and led to more incarceration of racial minorities.
Cannabis boom: Why Oklahoma is a 'wild wild west'
Cannabis boom: Why Oklahoma is a 'wild wild west'
In a briefing on Thursday, a White House official told reporters there are "no individuals currently in federal prison solely for simple possession of marijuana".In a briefing on Thursday, a White House official told reporters there are "no individuals currently in federal prison solely for simple possession of marijuana".
However, the pardon will remove "needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities" after convicts' records are wiped clear, Mr Biden said.
US officials estimate about 6,500 people with federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana will benefit from the Biden pardons.
The Democratic president said he would call upon all state governors to issue their own marijuana pardons.The Democratic president said he would call upon all state governors to issue their own marijuana pardons.
He is also directing the Department of Justice and the Department of Health to review how cannabis is classified under federal law.He is also directing the Department of Justice and the Department of Health to review how cannabis is classified under federal law.
"We classify marijuana at the same level as heroin - and more serious than fentanyl," said Mr Biden. "It makes no sense.""We classify marijuana at the same level as heroin - and more serious than fentanyl," said Mr Biden. "It makes no sense."
Recreational marijuana is already legal in 19 states and Washington DC. Medical use is legal in 37 states and three US territories.Recreational marijuana is already legal in 19 states and Washington DC. Medical use is legal in 37 states and three US territories.
However, the drug remains illegal at the federal level, even in states where it can be legally bought and used by millions of adults.However, the drug remains illegal at the federal level, even in states where it can be legally bought and used by millions of adults.
The federal ban also prevents the legal industry from working with major US banks, which are federally protected. The prohibition bars marijuana shops, known as dispensaries, from common financial services and forces many to operate as cash businesses. The pardons come a month before November's congressional mid-term elections, which will determine the power balance in Washington for the last two years of Mr Biden's term.
The US jails a higher percentage of its population than any other nation, but relatively few people are in prison for simple possession of marijuana. Life for Pot, a website advocating for the release of non-violent marijuana offenders, noted that there are no known federal prisoners that will be affected by Mr Biden's measure, tweeting: "This is window dressing."
"More than 99% of federal drug offenders are sentenced for trafficking," according to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics. Cannabis company shares jumped on the stock market by around 20% with news of Mr Biden's pardons.
US officials estimate there are "6,500 people with prior federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana" that Mr Biden will pardon. Mr Biden is not the first US president to pardon cannabis offenders.
Cannabis company shares jumped on the the stock market by around 20% with news of Mr Biden's pardons. On his final day in office, Donald Trump pardoned 12 marijuana offenders, including some who had been jailed for life under the three-strikes rule created by Mr Biden's 1994 crime bill.
Cannabis boom: Why Oklahoma is a 'wild wild west'
Cannabis boom: Why Oklahoma is a 'wild wild west'