![]() Over the weekend, President Joe Biden answered a question on cannabis. He was returning from an oversees trip, and speaking to reporters on the White House lawn. One reporter asked the president if he intended to honor his “campaign pledge to release all the marijuana inmates in prison?” And the President responded that he didn’t think, “anyone should be in prison for the use of marijuana.“ He also added, “We’re working on the Crime Bill now.” Those few words are about the most he has personally said on the subject since his term began last year. While campaigning, though, he had made the issue a part of his platform. In an interview with “The Breakfast Club” in 2020, Biden said that it “makes no sense for people to go to jail” for marijuana. At that time he also explained his support of decriminalization but not legalization. He said, “…they’re trying to find out whether or not there is any impact on the use of marijuana, not in leading you to other drugs, but what it affects. Does it affect long term development of the brain [… ] and we should wait until the studies are done… I think science matters.” More than just cannabis supporters have found Biden’s lack of action thus far to be irritating. Multiple Senators, Congressman, other lawmakers, advocates, celebrities, and citizens have sent letters repeatedly urging the President to take action immediately on cannabis, and not just ‘work on it’. In November, three Democratic senators, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley, sent a letter to Biden and said, “Our country’s cannabis policies must be completely overhauled, but you have the power to act now: you can and should issue a blanket pardon for all non-violent federal cannabis offenses, fulfilling your promises to the American people and transforming the lives of tens of thousands of Americans.” They also pointed out how he can take immediate action, saying, “The Constitution grants you the authority to pardon broad classes of Americans to correct widespread injustice, as previous presidents have done.” In May, Biden did commute the sentences of 75 individuals for nonviolent drug offenses. However, the White House description of those individuals only mentioned marijuana in 9 cases of the 75 total. Earlier this month, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) sent the President another letter on the cannabis issues. The letter was sent to President Joe Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra. In their letter, the Senators requested that the attorney general work independently to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, and that the President issue mass clemency for people with non-violent federal marijuana convictions. The Senators referred to the previous letter sent in the Fall, and the Justice Department’s “half-page response” and said it was “extraordinarily disappointing.” Biden’s comments this weekend saying he was “working on it” are all the acknowledgement on the subject that the White House has given at this time. Comments are closed.
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