United States President Joe Biden has issued a federal pardon to persons convicted of possessing marijuana, announcing his administration will work towards decriminalising the cannabis plant from the same level as heroin, a highly dangerous narcotic.
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Mr Biden in a Twitter thread on Thursday argued that personal use and possession of marijuana should be legal.
“As I’ve said before, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana. Today, I’m taking steps to end our failed approach. Allow me to lay them out.
“First: I’m pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession. There are thousands of people who were previously convicted of simple possession who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My pardon will remove this burden,” the Tweet read.
Mr Biden’s pardon marks an historic shift in the global discourse around marijuana, freeing about 6,500 people who were convicted on federal charges between 1992 to 2022. He has also tasked U.S. state governors to release every one been held on charges of marijuana’s possession.
“Second: I’m calling on governors to pardon simple state marijuana possession offenses. Just as no one should be in a federal prison solely for possessing marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either,” he added.
Mr Biden however noted that there will be limitations on trafficking, marketing and underage sales of marijuana. Being a substance illegal in many U.S. states, the president, makes a case for a federal legislation decriminalising the possession of the drug while also regulating its use.
“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,” he tweeted.
The American president called on Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Attorney-General Merrick Garland to review the process of decriminalising marijuana.
“We classify marijuana at the same level as heroin – and more serious than fentanyl. It makes no sense. I’m asking @SecBecerra and the Attorney General to initiate the process of reviewing how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.”
Mr Biden’s pardon is seen as a pledge fulfilled since he had promised to decriminalise the plant during his presidency campaign in 2019.
A Nigerian socialist political party, African Action Congress (AAC) has also through its manifesto and program of actions advocated for the decriminalisation of the substance. According to the party’s presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, his administration will be exploring the medicinal and industrial sales of the substance as part of efforts to improve the economy and boost exportation.
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Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
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