President Joe Biden took his first major steps toward decriminalizing marijuana, pardoning thousands of Americans convicted for possession of the drug and ordering a review of its legal status.
Biden on Thursday issued a blanket pardon for all prior federal offenses for simple possession of marijuana. He will also urge governors to issue similar pardons for state offenses involving marijuana, senior administration officials said.
Biden’s call for the attorney general to “initiate the process of reviewing how marijuana is scheduled under federal law” is good news for the sector, but there’s no indication of how long such a review could last. Even states that legalized more than a decade ago, such as California and Colorado, are still struggling to get regulations right, especially regarding issues like black-market competition, high-potency THC products and preventing young people from accessing the drug.
Fetterman praised Biden’s move in a tweet, but the president’s announcements stop short of decriminalizing marijuana, which would require an act of Congress. Lawmakers have not taken action on the matter but the issue has gained support among members of both parties. Nonetheless, they mark some of the most sweeping steps taken by a president to reduce criminal offenses related to the drug.
Senior administration officials said there is no timeline to complete the review, but Biden wants it done expeditiously.
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