Biden pardons marijuana offenders, cuts non-violent drug sentences
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[December 26, 2023]
By Andrea Shalal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday reduced the
prison terms of 11 people serving decades-long sentences for non-violent
drug charges and pardoned potentially thousands of others with federal
or Washington, D.C. marijuana possession offenses.
Biden said the actions were meant to address disparities in sentencing
that have long taken a toll on the Black community, and to expand his
commitment to marijuana reform.
"America was founded on the principle of equal justice under law," Biden
said in a statement. "Elected officials on both sides of the aisle,
faith leaders, civil rights advocates, and law enforcement leaders agree
that our criminal justice system can and should reflect this core value
that makes our communities safer and stronger."
The United States has less than 5% of the world's population but a fifth
of its prisoners. A disproportionate share are people of color, who make
up a sizable chunk of Biden's base of support.
Biden is gearing up for an intense year of campaigning ahead of the 2024
presidential election as his popularity sags, especially among young
people.
Some of the people pardoned were serving life sentences, the White House
said, including Earlie Deacon Barber of Alabama for cocaine distribution
and Deondre Cordell Higgins of Missouri for distributing crack cocaine.
Given recent reforms, each would have been eligible for reduced
sentences if they were sentenced today.
Some of the long sentences reflect longstanding disparities in
sentencing for crack-vs-powder cocaine convictions. Legal experts now
say such punishments do not aid public safety and disproportionately
impacts Black communities.
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U.S. President Joe Biden discusses the Biden administration economic
policies during a visit to the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., December 20, 2023. REUTERS/Leah
Millis/File Photo
Biden's new marijuana proclamation pardons people who were
"committed or were convicted of the offense of simple possession of
marijuana, attempted simple possession of marijuana, or use of
marijuana," including for use and possession on certain federal
lands.
A White House official said thousands of people with federal and
Washington, DC convictions were eligible for the pardons. The
administration has started an application process so that those
pardoned can get a special certificate if needed for housing or
employment applications.
Friday's action comes in addition to the 75 commutations and three
pardons issued in April 2022; six pardons issued in December 2022;
and 31 commutations in April 2023, as well as the categorical pardon
issued for thousands of people convicted of federal and D.C. simple
possession of marijuana in October 2022.
As of January 2022, no offenders sentenced solely for simple
possession of marijuana were in federal prisons, the U.S. Sentencing
Commission found this year.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Heather
Timmons, Richard Chang and Mark Porter)
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