president Joe Biden announced this on Thursday He will pardon all previous federal offenses for simple marijuana possession, and said, “Nobody should be in jail just for using marijuana.” Biden urged governors to do the same at the state level, since his pardon only affects those in federal prisons.
The move was welcomed by many politicians, but not all. For example Governor of Texas Gregory Abbott made that clear he will not grant pardons in the Lone Star State.
What about the cannabis advocate, Senator? Cory Booker (DN.J.), who along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced a marijuana law in late July that would decriminalize and de-schedule cannabis at the federal level?
Breathtaking effect
In a recent interview with NPRby Juana Summers, Booker said the impact of Biden’s action was “stunning”.
“As someone who went to Stanford and Yale and grew up in an affluent neighborhood in high school, a lot of people used marijuana. You’ve seen it very widely. We’ve had former presidents, senators and congressmen acknowledging this, but very little risk, little consequence,” Booker told Black and Brown and it is a life sentence. In other words, they may not serve jail time, but they will have a hard time getting a job, getting a business license, getting credit, getting certain housing options for the rest of their lives.”
Booker pointed out that African Americans are nearly four times more likely to be convicted of marijuana possession than whites, even though their rates of use are nearly the same.
Summers brought a Letter Booker wrote and co-signed with Sen. Elizabeth Waren (DMA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-ORE), Kirsten Gilbrand (D-NY) and Edward J Markey (D-MA) urges the Biden…
