President Joe Biden is pardoning anyone who has possessed or used marijuana, regardless of whether they have been convicted or not.
Biden issued Proclamation 10467 in October of 2022, which pardoned any citizens of simple possession of marijuana. The president has now expanded upon this pardon during the final days of the third year in office.
“Consistent with the grant of Proclamation 10467, I am pardoning additional individuals who may continue to experience the unnecessary collateral consequences of a conviction for simple possession of marijuana, attempted simple possession of marijuana, or use of marijuana,” stated Biden on Dec. 22.
Biden granted “a full, complete, and unconditional pardon to all current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who, on or before the date of this proclamation, committed or were convicted of the offense of simple possession of marijuana, attempted simple possession of marijuana, or use of marijuana, regardless of whether they have been charged with or prosecuted for these offenses on or before the date of this proclamation.”
Biden called simple possession convictions “needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities.”
“This pardon does not apply to individuals who were non-citizens not lawfully present in the United States at the time of their offense,” he noted in his statement. The pardon also does not apply to individuals who have violated state law.
Attitudes toward marijuana have dramatically shifted in recent decades.
Pew Research reported in April that 84% of Americans believed marijuana should be illegal in 1969 but only 32% had the same opinion in 2019. The shift coincided with an increase in support for marijuana legalization – which jumped from 12% in 1969 to 67% in 2019.
As of November, the medicinal use of marijuana was legal in 38 states and 24 states permitted the recreational use of the drug. A poll from Gallup revealed that 70% of adults believe marijuana should be legal – a record-high level of support. Moreover, the majority of adults support marijuana legalization regardless of their political affiliations with 85% of Democrats in favor as well as 55% of Republicans and 70% of Independents.
“Although some health organizations and political commentators have raised concerns about the medical risks of marijuana, this hasn’t blunted the public’s desire for legalization thus far,” noted Gallup’s analysts. “For now, the high level of support among younger adults suggests national backing will only expand in the years ahead, likely resulting in more states, and perhaps the federal government, moving to legalize it.”
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that marijuana usage among American seniors aged 65 and older jumped from 0.4% in 2007 to 8.4% in 2022, per Axios.
Biden has also granted clemency to 11 Americans he believes “are serving unduly long sentences for non-violent drug offenses.”
