President Biden Pardons Certain Federal Marijuana Offenses

On October 6, 2022, President Biden pardoned all offenses of simple possession of marijuana in violation of Federal or D.C. Law for current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents.

In a statement released by the White House, President Biden said:

Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many state no longer prohibit. Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. And while white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates.

As part of this effort to address unnecessary and problematic marijuana convictions, President Biden has urged all Governors to pardon state offenses of simple possession of marijuana and asked the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to review how Federal Law schedules marijuana. Under Federal Law, marijuana is currently a Schedule I substance, which is the same schedule as heroin and LSD and a higher schedule than fentanyl and methamphetamine.

While an estimated 6,500 individuals will benefit from the pardon, undocumented immigrants, individuals who are found guilty of future acts of simple possession, and individuals with state offenses of simple possession remain unaffected by it.

For More Information:

Learn more about the pardon here

This blog post does not serve as legal advice and does not establish any client-attorney privilege. Do not take any action based on the information contained in this post without consulting a qualified immigration attorney. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our legal team directly.

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