On Thursday, the former Vice President announced his administration will be pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession, and is looking into modifying marijuana restrictions under federal law.
Biden said, “As I’ve said before, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana. Sending people to jail for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives — for conduct that is legal in many states. That’s before you address the clear racial disparities around prosecution and conviction. Today, we begin to right these wrongs.”
WATCH:
Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. Hear from @POTUS on the three steps he is taking to right these wrongs. pic.twitter.com/IqOxHxjgue
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 6, 2022
The announcement has led many to believe Biden’s move to be another attempt to distract voters from the administration’s poor record of performance.
Speaking on Fox News contributor Kellyanne Conway commented on the announcement saying, “Whether it is student loan forgiveness or pardoning marijuana possession convictions, a bereft Biden tries hard to change the subject and get people who dislike him to dislike him a little bit less.”
Conway went on to comment on how the pardoning of marijuana offenders will come back to haunt Kamala Harris, whose office had managed over 1,900 marijuana convictions.
Today, @POTUS pardoned all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession. He has asked @SecBecerra and the Attorney General to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.
This is a step forward in correcting the historical injustices of failed drug policies.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) October 6, 2022
Conway said, “This is less likely to motivate voters than it is to embarrass Vice President Kamala Harris. As San Francisco’s top prosecutor between 2004 and 2010, her office handled more than 1,900 marijuana convictions. Even if this makes sense legally or practically to Biden, he runs the risk as being seen again as ignoring the broader and deeper concerns surrounding violent crime surges and an inescapably devastating economic picture.”
