United States President Joe Biden will pardon all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession, the White House said on Thursday. The pardons will apply to everyone in the District of Columbia convicted of simple marijuana possession, a senior member of the administration told reporters. 

“As I often
said during my campaign for President, no one should be in jail just for using
or possessing marijuana.  Sending people to prison for possessing
marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that
many states no longer prohibit. Criminal records for marijuana possession have
also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational
opportunities.  And while white and Black and brown people use marijuana
at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and
convicted at disproportionate rates,” Biden said in a statement issued by the
White House.

The US
President announced three steps to end what he called a ‘failed approach’ to
control the flow of marijuana:

1.      
All
federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana have been pardoned.

2.      
Request
all governors of states to do the same for state offenses.

3.      
Calling
on the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney general to initiate
administrative process to review federal law on marijuana. 

Nearly 6,500 people will be immediately impacted by the pardon, according to the senior official. 

According to the president, criminal records for marijuana possession have led to “needless barriers to employment, housing and educational opportunities.” 

“And while white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates,” the White House statement read. 

The United States president did add that federal and state regulations on trafficking, marketing and under-age sale needed to remain. “Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time to right these wrongs.”

This is a developing story. More details will be added.