Biden pardons all Federal marijuana possession convictions

[fortnightlily]

About time!

"President Biden announced major steps toward decriminalizing marijuana possession Thursday, issuing mass pardons for anyone convicted of federal crimes for simply possessing the drug, and urging governors to do the same.

He also called for his administration to expedite a review of whether marijuana should continue to be listed as a Schedule I substance."

wapo.st/3SKCUMW

[pixy0stix]

This is a big step, especially since advocates have been pushing for pardons along with legalizing.

[seeyalater52]

This is huge!!!

[wanderingback]

Yes! For once (at least for now), nothing negative to say about a Biden I hope this trickles down to the states, I see he mentioned he’s encouraging states to follow, so would love to see action on that as well.

[seeyalater52]

Oct 6, 2022 16:31:43 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Yes! For once (at least for now), nothing negative to say about a Biden I hope this trickles down to the states, I see he mentioned he’s encouraging states to follow, so would love to see action on that as well.

I agree! My state passed a recreational marijuana law that includes automatic expungement for possession earlier this year and I was really pleased at the effort of legislators to design that process so it wasn’t burdensome to those who were entitled to changes to their criminal record.
norml.org/laws/rhode-island-legalization/

[neverfstop]

This is fantastic. I'm the sure GOP will use it as a wedge issue with their "Dems are soft on crime" stance.

[pixy0stix]

Oct 6, 2022 19:18:49 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

This is fantastic. I'm the sure GOP will use it as a wedge issue with their "Dems are soft on crime" stance.

And they'll lose more voters like they did with abortion. People are overwhelmingly in support of Marijuana legalization.

[ellipses84]

This is amazing news! It will definitely have a positive effect on voters. I don’t think the GOP’s spin on it is going to help them much.

[shauni27]

I saw this yesterday and was so thrilled.

[RitzyHeifer]

deleted, I went to the POTUS account to verify and the tweets started at 3:00 pm, not 4:20. Apologies for not verifying before posting.

——-

As usual, the White House social media team is ON it:

(Tweet from someone saying “Blaze it”, quoting the POTUS tweet starting the announcements of marijuana reform time stamped at 4:20.)

[wildrice]

This is fantastic news. It's about time!

[TR]

I'm seeing some chatter that this isn't actually releasing anyone from prison because no one is in prison on federal charges of simple marijuana possession. Obviously it's still helpful in a) getting records expunged and b) setting a tone for hopefully states to follow. But I'm seeing a lot of "this is lip service!" from the left. But man, it seems like at least a first step in the right direction.

[wawa]

Oct 7, 2022 10:21:27 GMT -5 TR said:

I'm seeing some chatter that this isn't actually releasing anyone from prison because no one is in prison on federal charges of simple marijuana possession. Obviously it's still helpful in a) getting records expunged and b) setting a tone for hopefully states to follow. But I'm seeing a lot of "this is lip service!" from the left. But man, it seems like at least a first step in the right direction.

I mean, I'm no expert - but having a federal criminal record is a HUGE weight around anybody's neck in trying to secure housing, a job, etc etc etc.  I think it's really short sighted to say that since this didnt release people from prison it doesnt' mean anything.  6,500 people not having that hurdle anymore isn't nothing. Obvoisly i want more, but yay first step.  Now the next, and then the next.  

[TR]

Oct 7, 2022 11:36:29 GMT -5 wawa said:

Oct 7, 2022 10:21:27 GMT -5 TR said:

I'm seeing some chatter that this isn't actually releasing anyone from prison because no one is in prison on federal charges of simple marijuana possession. Obviously it's still helpful in a) getting records expunged and b) setting a tone for hopefully states to follow. But I'm seeing a lot of "this is lip service!" from the left. But man, it seems like at least a first step in the right direction.

I mean, I'm no expert - but having a federal criminal record is a HUGE weight around anybody's neck in trying to secure housing, a job, etc etc etc.  I think it's really short sighted to say that since this didnt release people from prison it doesnt' mean anything.  6,500 people not having that hurdle anymore isn't nothing. Obvoisly i want more, but yay first step.  Now the next, and then the next.  

Agreed. And it seems to be something the left does a lot. Sometimes warranted, but sometimes not. I don't know if the right does this, too, because I don't tend to follow their reactions to GOP-led things.

[pixy0stix]

Oct 7, 2022 11:36:29 GMT -5 wawa said:

Oct 7, 2022 10:21:27 GMT -5 TR said:

I'm seeing some chatter that this isn't actually releasing anyone from prison because no one is in prison on federal charges of simple marijuana possession. Obviously it's still helpful in a) getting records expunged and b) setting a tone for hopefully states to follow. But I'm seeing a lot of "this is lip service!" from the left. But man, it seems like at least a first step in the right direction.

I mean, I'm no expert - but having a federal criminal record is a HUGE weight around anybody's neck in trying to secure housing, a job, etc etc etc.  I think it's really short sighted to say that since this didnt release people from prison it doesnt' mean anything.  6,500 people not having that hurdle anymore isn't nothing. Obvoisly i want more, but yay first step.  Now the next, and then the next.  

We're always getting in the way of ourselves not celebrating the small victories.

[rubytue]

Having things on your record, especially drug related, totally effs you up long-term, even if you aren’t in prison, and even if you never served prison time.

I feel kind of something for putting this out there, so PDQ because I might decide I regret it. H has a conviction from his 21st birthday for, not even simple possession, but paraphernalia possession (silly boy put a pipe in his pants, while wearing boxers). But it counts as a drug crime. And here he is at 47 and he is trying to transfer his professional license. But still needs some records from the court system about it. It’s been 25+ years!

[seeyalater52]

rubytue obviously not liking the situation but that is a perfect example of the way that these sort of convictions over essentially nothing continue to have personal and professional ramifications for decades to come. Ending that is a big deal. Like most things, it isn’t perfect, and we should be able to acknowledge that without downplaying the significance of those developments either.

[Michelle]

In states where you still don't have Ban the Box legislation, eliminating crimes for simple possession will open up job opportunities previously denied to so many people, simple because of hiring biases. This is awesome, as is lessening how severely it is rated.

[rubytue]

seeyalater52, now, if only they would talk about the other minor stuff besides “simple possession”. That state actually has an expungement process, but it’s only for possession and you have to have been under 21. Like literally a day earlier and it could have been gone (we actually talked to a local attorney one of the times we needed some documents because I panicked when I found out). But, I’m glad they do have some option for the true “young and dumb shit.”

[ellipses84]

Oct 7, 2022 11:36:29 GMT -5 wawa said:

Oct 7, 2022 10:21:27 GMT -5 TR said:

I'm seeing some chatter that this isn't actually releasing anyone from prison because no one is in prison on federal charges of simple marijuana possession. Obviously it's still helpful in a) getting records expunged and b) setting a tone for hopefully states to follow. But I'm seeing a lot of "this is lip service!" from the left. But man, it seems like at least a first step in the right direction.

I mean, I'm no expert - but having a federal criminal record is a HUGE weight around anybody's neck in trying to secure housing, a job, etc etc etc.  I think it's really short sighted to say that since this didnt release people from prison it doesnt' mean anything.  6,500 people not having that hurdle anymore isn't nothing. Obvoisly i want more, but yay first step.  Now the next, and then the next.  

I also think doing this federally encourages states to do the same, which will impact even more people.