New Delhi: US President Joe Biden on Thursday, pardoned thousands of Americans who are convicted of possessing marijuana. He announced major new steps towards destigmatizing the drug in a series of tweets and fulfilling a promise he made to his supporters a month before the midterm elections.


“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,” Biden said in a tweet.


Biden said that he is pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession as they may be denied employment opportunities or educational opportunities.


“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,” Biden said in a tweet. 






He also called upon governors to pardon offenses related to simple state marijuana possession, saying that no one should be in federal prison or a local prison solely for possessing marijuana.


“I’m calling on governors to pardon simple state marijuana possession offenses. Just as no one should be in federal prison solely for possessing marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either,” Biden tweeted.


Biden said that there is no sense in classifying marijuana at the same level as heroin. He has also asked the secretary of the US Health department, Xavier Becerra, and the Attorney General to initiate the process of reviewing how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.


“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,” Biden said in a tweet.


Although Biden also asserted on the need for important limitations on trafficking, marketing, and underage sales of marijuana. “I’d also like to note that as federal and state regulations change, we still need important limitations on trafficking, marketing, and underage sales of marijuana,” Biden tweeted.


Officials told reporters that about 6,500 people are directly affected by convictions under federal marijuana statutes. Clemency will extend to thousands more convicted under laws in the federal capital, Washington, as reported by the news agency AFP.


(With AFP Inputs)