Biden Has Taken The First Major Step Towards Decriminalization by Pardoning All Federal Offenses of Simple Marijuana Possession

President Joe Biden is taking a step in the right direction, fulfilling a campaign pledge to erase prior federal possession convictions and beginning the process of potentially loosening federal classification of the drug.

This is a big announcement that has come ahead of critical November elections. As a part of the announcement, Biden also encouraged governors to take similar steps to pardon state simple marijuana possession charges, a move that would potentially affect more than 6,500 Americans with prior convictions and thousands more through pardons under D.C. law.