New York, Europe Brief News – The US President Joe Biden has pardoned thousands convicted of marijuana possession.
The move came amid efforts to legalise the marijuana federally after recent success of state-level campaigns.
Biden said the move reflects his view that “no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana”.
“There are thousands of people who have prior federal convictions for marijuana possession, who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result,” he said in a statement.
“My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions.”
The order only applies to those convicted on federal charges of “simple marijuana possession” – a term that refers to drug possession for personal use, with no intent to distribute – and does not relate to those who have been convicted of possessing marijuana in state courts.
In the statement, Biden urged US governors to take similar action to pardon state-level offences.
“Just as no one should be in a federal prison solely due to the possession of marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either,” he said.
Biden did not say exactly how many people would receive pardons. But a senior US official told reporters that Thursday’s measure would affect about 6,500 people.
