https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/04/24/biden-pardon-commutation-drug-sentence/73437378007/
Many of those granted pardons or commuted sentences had been given longer prison sentences than they would have under current law.
Reposted with different source as requested by mods.
Getting "Clash of Clans: Presidential Edition!" vibes from the thumbnail, lol.
Anywho, yay for forgiving stupid sentences for stupid laws. 16 seems a little weak though... why not just scrap the entire law that's landing prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenses?
why not just scrap the entire law that's landing prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenses?
You really, really need to get caught up on the basics of how our government works before forming any strong political opinions. The president has no ability to "scrap entire laws" and that's entirely intentional and part of the foundation of the American political system.
Oh, I meant that as a completely separate idea, not something he should personally do. Probably should have made that it's own paragraph instead of just an ellipsis. Shitty communication on my part.
All good, and apologies for the heat. There are just a lot of people that are commenting these very strong opinions and show a clear lack of understanding in even the basics of our process.
And to address your revised take: because we have not had a filibuster-proof majority in the legislative chambers with the space to focus on cannabis issues. We have to vote in a congress with the ability to do this.
Naw you're good. I have a bad habit of just typing as I think. The ellipses as a pause was the pause in my thinking between topics, which is very much not how an ellipses is supposed to be used. You responded appropriately taking my post at face value.
He started the process of rescheduling. The HHS recommended schedule 3, and we’re awaiting DEA approval. You can thank Congress for tying the DEA’s funding to their arrest count for the stalling. Independently of rescheduling, Congress alone can roll back federal regulations to decriminalize possession, but half of them prefer having full prisons.
The only other way he could override the law is by Executive Order. Those are temporary orders meant to address a crisis while proper legislation is put in place. Issuing an Executive Order without certainty of follow-up legislation would be extremely disruptive to the cannabis industry when it expires.
President can only pardon or commute federal convictions/sentences. Note that all of the commuted sentences are for trafficking cocaine. The pardons for "non-violent drug offenses" were very likely for growing or trafficking of marijuana, as federal prosecution for possession is vanishingly rare.