Joe Biden

In a letter last week, sixty-six members of Congress asked President Joe Biden (D) to use his clemency powers to “address longstanding injustices” in the U.S. legal system during the final months of his presidency.

Joe Biden has announced that the US Justice Department is moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. In his announcement, he stated that he is committed to “righting the wrongs” of prohibition, though Schedule III status doesn’t do anything specific to help those currently incarcerated.

The Biden Administration has once again included a provision in its budget to block Washington D.C. from using funds to implement its voter-approved adult-use cannabis marketplace, continuing a nearly decade-long congressional intervention that has prevented the city from establishing a regulated cannabis industry despite local and national support for legalization.

Leading veterans groups and U.S. law enforcement officials have urged the Biden Administration to reschedule cannabis, highlighting its potential benefits for veterans and the need for reform to enhance treatments and reduce unnecessary legal consequences.

A recent survey found that President Biden’s cannabis reform efforts are popular among Americans, with the president standing to gain about 11% political support if he were to follow the HHS’ recommendation to reschedule cannabis.

President Joe Biden has issued additional pardons for simple cannabis possession and use but once again stopped short of granting clemency to any prisoners currently serving time for cannabis-related convictions.

The Marijuana Justice Coalition and Cannabis Freedom Alliance sent a letter to President Joe Biden (D) arguing that the administration’s plan to federally reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III “would simply maintain federal criminalization” of state-legal cannabis programs.

The White House press secretary said on Friday that President Biden “has always supported the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes” despite having championed legislation that fueled the war on drugs.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has recommended that cannabis be moved from a Schedule I to Schedule III substance under federal law.

Individuals affected by the sweeping federal cannabis pardons announced by President Biden last year can now apply to receive a certificate proving that they received the pardon.

President Joe Biden signed the nation’s first standalone cannabis reforms bill last week, paving the way for researchers to more easily investigate the plant’s medicinal properties.

A cohort of U.S. representatives sent a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to consider pardons of simple cannabis possession convictions for immigrants.

U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra is already working with the FDA to review cannabis’ federal scheduling status as directed by President Biden during his pardoning announcement last week.

Recent polls found the majority of Americans support President Biden’s move to pardon federal cannabis possession charges and want governors around the country to follow suit per the president’s request.

President Joe Biden issued a pardon for all federal cannabis possession charges on Thursday and said his administration would take steps to consider rescheduling cannabis under federal law.

A recent memo from the Biden Administration suggests that White House applicants who have invested in the legal cannabis industry may be denied security clearances.

The Biden Administration is proposing a prisoner swap for Americans Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan in exchange for Viktor Bout, a Russian who was convicted in the U.S. of arms dealing.

President Joe Biden recently reiterated that he believes nobody should be imprisoned for “the use of marijuana” and said his administration is working on a “crime bill” to address the issue.

Democratic senators from four U.S. states sent a letter to President Joe Biden calling for his administration to deschedule cannabis and issue pardons to all individuals convicted of non-violent cannabis crimes. 

Despite President Biden’s campaign promise to reform federal cannabis laws, applicants interested in White House internships must disclose prior cannabis use, which could affect their eligibility even if the consumption took place in a legalized state.

President Joe Biden (D) is commuting the sentences of just 75 individuals who were convicted of non-violent drug offenses to mark Second Chance Month.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) filed a lawsuit to remove a question about medical cannabis and gun ownership from a federal form required to purchase a gun.