U.S. residents who are behind bars on federal marijuana charges will soon get a chance to toke up again. President Joe Biden on Thursday announced the pardons of all people who have been convicted of simple marijuana possession.
- "As I’ve said before, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana," Biden wrote in a series of social media posts. "Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit. Today, I’m taking steps to end our failed approach." Biden also said he's directed officials to review the classification of marijuana, which is currently considered as dangerous as heroin and fentanyl.
- It's unclear how many people will be pardoned, or when the pardons are expected to begin.