Democratic Governor of Maryland Wes Moore pardons over 175,000 marijuana convictions on Monday (June 17) in arguably the most comprehensive reversal of drug policy in the United States.

Democratic Governor of Maryland Wes Moore pardons over 175,000 marijuana convictions on Monday (June 17) in arguably the most comprehensive reversal of drug policy in the United States. Moore's proposal apply to around 100,000 individuals found guilty of misdemeanor marijuana possession offenses. Across the nation, marijuana is becoming more and more legal to use for both medical and recreational purposes. "I’m ecstatic that we have a real opportunity with what I’m signing to write a lot of historical wrongs," Moore stated. "If you want to be able to create inclusive economic growth, it means you have to start removing these barriers that continue to disproportionately sit on communities of colour." The wave of pardons, according to Moore's administration, is scheduled to fall on Wednesday's Juneteenth holiday. Although its neighbours, Virginia and Washington, DC, still retain certain limitations, Maryland has completely legalised the cannabis trade inside its boundaries since 2023. Neither of Washington, DC and Virginia jurisdictions have granted pardons for marijuana-related offenses. Also read: Greek coastguard threw migrants into sea after tying their hands: Report Democratic attorney general of Maryland Anthony Brown applauded Moore's pardon. "While the pardons will extend to anyone and everyone with a misdemeanor conviction for the possession of marijuana or paraphernalia, this unequivocally, without any doubt or reservation, disproportionately impacts — in a good way — Black and Brown Marylanders," Brown said. "We are arrested and convicted at higher rates for possession and use of marijuana when the rate at which we used it was no different than any other category of people," he continued. According to the Washington Post, Maryland officials stated that the pardons, which would also apply to the deceased, would not result in the release of anybody from jail because no one is currently incarcerated. Given that it is lawful for anyone in the state to possess minor amounts of cannabis, misdemeanor cannabis crimes result in short punishments and no longer carry criminal prosecutions. (With inputs from agencies)

Maryland Governor scraps 175,000 marijuana convictions in historic move

United States President Joe Biden has pardoned thousands of American citizens convicted of using or possessing marijuana on certain federal lands. According to a report by the news agency Bloomberg on Friday (Dec 22), President Biden commuted the sentences of nearly a dozen non-violent drug offenders.

United States President Joe Biden has pardoned thousands of American citizens convicted of using or possessing marijuana on certain federal lands. According to a report by the news agency Bloomberg on Friday (Dec 22), President Biden commuted the sentences of nearly a dozen non-violent drug offenders. "I exercised my authority under the Constitution to pardon individuals who committed or were convicted of the offence of simple possession of marijuana in violation of the Controlled Substances Act and section 48–904.01(d)(1) of the Code of the District of Columbia (D.C. Code)," Biden said in a statement. "As I have said before, convictions for simple possession of marijuana have imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities," he added. "This pardon does not apply to individuals who were non-citizens not lawfully present in the United States at the time of their offence," the president further said in the statement. Sentences of 11 Americans shortened As per the Bloomberg report, the prison sentences of 11 Americans were shortened. These citizens were either serving decades-long or life sentences for non-violent drug offences. Speaking to the news agency, an official said that some people with crack cocaine convictions will have their sentences commuted, noting that powder cocaine offences tend to receive shorter punishments. Also read: US terrorist watchlist nearly doubled in just six years, says report Biden's decision applies to various federal lands including national parks, wildlife refuges and even the CIA. It covers only US citizens and does not include charges associated with distributing marijuana or driving while using it. As a presidential candidate in 2020, Biden vowed to broadly use the clemency powers of the presidency for non-violent crimes. Bloomberg reported that while some advocates argued that the president used those powers sparingly, he pardoned thousands of federal convictions for simple marijuana possession in 2022. In December 2022, Biden issued full pardons to six Americans including an 80-year-old woman. (With inputs from agencies)

US President Biden pardons thousands convicted of using or possessing marijuana

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Maryland Governor scraps 175,000 marijuana convictions in historic move

US President Biden pardons thousands convicted of using or possessing marijuana