Opening up the news every morning, it’s necessary to prepare yourself. What did Biden do this time? And you know he is going to do something stupid. It’s making it hard to walk with your head held high as a proud American.
President Joe Biden on Thursday announced that he would pardon thousands of Americans who were convicted under federal law on the basis of “simple marijuana possession.” This is part of a wider attempt to make marijuana less illegal in the United States at the national level. The announcement made by Biden demanded that governors take the same action for the people who are convicted of similar offenses.
The liberals believe the idea of putting people in jail for possession of marijuana has shattered the lives of many people – and this is for an act that is lawful in a number of states. This is before you tackle the obvious racial differences in prosecuting and convicted…
In his announcement, Biden declared the point that “no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana,” and in the course of his plans that he will be “pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession.”
“There are thousands of people who were previously convicted of simple possession who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My pardon will remove this burden,” he continued. Apparently, he missed the part where people were convicted because possession was illegal.
Biden continued to ask governors to do the same in the belief that “just as no one should be in a federal prison solely for possessing marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either.”
The president then explained the fact that federal authorities classifies the drug “at the same level as heroin – and more serious than fentanyl,” and that he’s instructing the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to examine the way in which the drug is classified.
He concluded by pointing out the different racial differences in how marijuana laws have been applied:
A senior official from the administration told NBC News that more than 6,500 Americans were found guilty of possession with no intent to use marijuana in federal court between 1992 and 2021. It is important to note that, at the moment, there aren’t any prisoners in the federal system that was found guilty of simple possession. The majority of convictions for this crime occur on a state level.
But, those who have such convictions on their record do suffer more challenges when it comes to getting work, housing, or even opportunities to study. “This pardon will help relieve those collateral consequences,” the official stated.
The move comes just only a few weeks before Democrats within Congress were considering legislation to allow the utilization by the plants at a federal level. This has been a favored initiative of Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) since 2020. However, Democratic lawmakers weren’t able – or unwilling to put anything that could be passed by both chambers.
However, Biden’s decision is widely applauded by those on both ends of the political spectrum. But The Associated Press pointed out that “there’s a big divide in the nation as some police departments still believe the drug leads to more serious crime and ignoring low-level offenses emboldens criminals.”
It is also vital to keep in mind that decriminalizing and legalizing marijuana is a process that is supported by both parties. The states that are red are moving further towards passing legislation that makes it legal.
Of course, this seems to be a deliberate effort by Democrats to win over voters ahead of the Congress election, which is just a little over one month away. As their chances look bleak and their prospects look grim, they have to find an approach to lessen the impact.
It’s a bold move that only helps criminals and the Democrats. A pardon for breaking the law. What will Biden do next?
