 Just a few weeks ago, President Joe Biden was asked about his campaign pledge to release people who have been incarcerated for non-violent cannabis offences.
At that time, he said “I don’t think anyone should be in prison for the use of marijuana.” He then added, “We’re working on the crime bill now.” No further clarification or explanation was given for how or what exactly they were working on. Yesterday at a White House news briefing, a New York Post reporter, Steven Nelson, tried to follow up on that issue. Nelson asked the White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, if the president believes people with federal convictions for selling cannabis should qualify for relief and if the crime bill that Biden referred to “rules out potential mass clemency.” Karine Jean-Pierre first reminded him that the president did grant clemency to 78 people for non-violent federal drug convictions in April. She pointed out that this was more than any of his five most recent Presidential predecessors have done. She continued, “He continues to evaluate further uses of clemency powers. We just don’t have any additional announcement to make at this time—but I can tell you that’s what he’s been doing during his administration.” Comments are closed.
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