President Joe Biden Announces Clemency for Thousands of People Convicted of Marihuana Possession Under Federal Law

President Biden is taking bold action to end the failed approach to marijuana policy, which has for too long upended too many lives, and instead promote public safety and justice for all Americans. He is announcing that he will be pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession.<br><br>There are thousands of people who were previously convicted of simple possession who will be pardoned as part of the President’s announcement today. This pardon does not apply to individuals who were distributing or possessing marijuana with intent to distribute.<br><br>Also, in order to satisfy the immigration requirement of the pardon, the pardon will only apply to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.<br><br>We recognize that the full pardon ledger for marijuana convictions at the federal level is incomplete and limited, and does not reflect the whole universe of people who have been impacted by marijuana convictions, including those who were not charged with a crime, but were instead expulsed or denied admission to university or a job based on a marijuana-related drug test.