Detroit Evening Report: Biden says he’ll pardon simple federal marijuana possession convictions
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President Joe Biden announced he is working towards decriminalizing marijuana on the federal level.
In a series of tweets, Biden says people previously convicted of simple possession will be granted a pardon. Biden has also called on state governors to pardon state marijuana offenses.
As I’ve said before, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana.
Today, I’m taking steps to end our failed approach. Allow me to lay them out.
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 6, 2022
In one of his tweets making the announcement, Biden states, “Sending people to jail for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives for conduct that is legal in many states. That’s before you address the clear racial disparities around prosecution and conviction. Today, we begin to right these wrongs.”
According to CNN, the moves stop short of full decriminalization, which has enjoyed growing support among both Democrats and Republicans.
Marijuana is illegal under federal law, even as individual states have voted to legalize recreational consumption, including Michigan in 2018.
Other headlines for October 6, 2022:
- Dearborn Public Schools will review books students have access to in school
- Detroit Housing for Future Fund celebrates first completed affordable housing project
- Family of Porter Burks suing Detroit police officers that shot and killed him
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