"Biden's Pardons and Commutations: Addressing Drug Offenses and Unjust Disparities"

President Joe Biden will issue a proclamation to pardon certain marijuana offenses, targeting additional offenses of simple possession and use of marijuana under federal and D.C. law. The pardons aim to address the barriers to employment, housing, and education caused by criminal records for marijuana use and possession. Biden also called on governors to take similar actions with state marijuana-related offenses. In addition, Biden is commuting the prison sentences of 11 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. The Department of Health and Human Services recommended in August that the Drug Enforcement Administration ease marijuana restrictions by moving it to a Schedule III drug, but it is still classified as a Schedule 1 drug.