On April 5th, 2021, President Joe Biden pardoned several marijuana offenses in Washington D.C., extending clemency to those found guilty of minor possession. This act will provide an additional layer of protection for those who were prosecuted for minor marijuana offenses before the city decriminalized recreational use in 2015.
The District of Columbia decriminalized recreational marijuana use in February 2015. Subsequently, in September 2019, resident Matthew Goldberg filed a lawsuit against the city challenging previous prosecutions for minor marijuana offenses. The filing claimed that these convictions violated the residents’ right to be free from “arbitrary, discriminatory, and retaliatory government action.”
The new pardons from President Biden followed a settlement agreement between Goldberg and the District of Columbia that was issued earlier this year. This settlement required the District to pardon anyone convicted of minor marijuana possession prior to the decriminalization.
The Biden administration’s decision to extend clemency to those convicted of minor marijuana offenses in DC is part of a larger effort to expand clemency for cannabis nationally. Last month, the Biden Administration announced the formation of the Presidential Clemency Initiative, which will provide relief for thousands of qualifying individuals who are incarcerated for federal charges related to marijuana offenses.
In addition to pardoning small possession charges, President Biden also signaled his support for legalizing marijuana at the federal level. Speaking before Congress, he stated that it “should not be a crime federally.”
These actions signal an increased action and awareness surrounding the national view on cannabis. Legal cannabis is now legal in 15 states and the District of Columbia, with more states considering legalization in the upcoming election cycle.
The Biden Administration’s decision to extend clemency for those convicted of minor marijuana offenses in DC is a significant step forward for the cannabis industry. It will provide critical relief to those who have been previously convicted and more broadly promotes an increased acceptance of cannabis nationwide.
On April 5th, 2021, President Joe Biden pardoned several marijuana offenses in Washington D.C., extending clemency to those found guilty of minor possession. This act will provide an additional layer of protection for those who were prosecuted for minor marijuana offenses before the city decriminalized recreational use in 2015.
The District of Columbia decriminalized recreational marijuana use in February 2015. Subsequently, in September 2019, resident Matthew Goldberg filed a lawsuit against the city challenging previous prosecutions for minor marijuana offenses. The filing claimed that these convictions violated the residents’ right to be free from “arbitrary, discriminatory, and retaliatory government action.”
The new pardons from President Biden followed a settlement agreement between Goldberg and the District of Columbia that was issued earlier this year. This settlement required the District to pardon anyone convicted of minor marijuana possession prior to the decriminalization.
The Biden administration’s decision to extend clemency to those convicted of minor marijuana offenses in DC is part of a larger effort to expand clemency for cannabis nationally. Last month, the Biden Administration announced the formation of the Presidential Clemency Initiative, which will provide relief for thousands of qualifying individuals who are incarcerated for federal charges related to marijuana offenses.
In addition to pardoning small possession charges, President Biden also signaled his support for legalizing marijuana at the federal level. Speaking before Congress, he stated that it “should not be a crime federally.”
These actions signal an increased action and awareness surrounding the national view on cannabis. Legal cannabis is now legal in 15 states and the District of Columbia, with more states considering legalization in the upcoming election cycle.
The Biden Administration’s decision to extend clemency for those convicted of minor marijuana offenses in DC is a significant step forward for the cannabis industry. It will provide critical relief to those who have been previously convicted and more broadly promotes an increased acceptance of cannabis nationwide.
