Senators Urge Biden to Pardon All Non-violent Cannabis Offenses

Warren’s fellow senator from the Bay State, Ed Markey, and Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley also signed the letter.  “America’s cannabis policies have punished Black and Brown communities for too long. Decrying “over a century of failed and racist cannabis policies,” Elizabeth Warren and a pair of other Democratic senators are urging President Joe Biden to use his executive authority to “pardon all individuals convicted of nonviolent cannabis offenses, whether formerly or currently incarcerated.” Warren, the senior senator from Massachusetts, made the request in a letter to Biden on Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in July that the president remains opposed to lifting the prohibition on pot. And a number of tribal governments have legalized cannabis for various purposes.” But despite all that evidence of robust public approval for marijuana reform, Biden has thus far balked at the idea of outright legalization. However, on the campaign trail last year, Biden had said that he supports decriminalizing marijuana, as well as expunging the records and releasing from jail individuals who had been convicted of pot.