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On May 6th, 2021, President Biden continued his administration’s push toward criminal justice reform by issuing a set of proclamations and issuing several pardons that include marijuana-related offenses in the District of Columbia. This move will help to promote the President’s progressive move to clemency streaming throughout 2021 and into the start of 2022.
The pardons are part of the President’s commitment to reforming the criminal justice system, and are made to individuals who were thought to have been tried or penalized for their involvement in marijuana possession or sale. The clemencies will cover convictions for conduct that is no longer reflective of current laws and regulations in the District of Columbia.
The pardons affirm the President’s commitment to address the impact of flawed drug laws and to reduce the country’s reliance on incarceration as a response to drug use. Furthermore, by eliminating and expunging past marijuana-related convictions, the President is sending a strong message to current and future offenders that the U.S. criminal justice system views marijuana convictions as serious and severe.
The President’s move to address convictions for past marijuana offenses through clemency is part of a larger effort to address the country’s wide racial disparities in marijuana prosecution. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, Black people are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people, even though studies have found that both races use the drug at similar rates.
This move may have immense ramifications in the District of Columbia and beyond. Not only does it send a strong message in support of criminal justice reform, but it also serves to eliminate oppressive laws regarding cannabis as the wave of public opinion slowly shifts away from criminalization of the substance. Moreover, this move will impact countless individuals who have been impacted by drug laws and give them a fresh start to enjoy the full freedoms and liberties as any other citizen.
