President of the United States, Joe Biden, wrote on his X account today (Wednesday) “I’m making sure no one goes to jail just for using or possessing marijuana, and their criminal records should be expunged. It’s time we right these historic wrongs.” He also spoke on the subject yesterday, at the 115th National Conference of the Civil Rights Organization for African Americans (NAACP).
Let’s recall that this is after he announced in his campaign in 2020 that he would abolish the criminalization of cannabis, but this did not come to fruition in the three and a half years in which he served. However, the president has issued pardons to thousands of people with misdemeanor cannabis possession offenses and requested an administrative review of marijuana — prompting the Justice Department to formally recommend a review. However, these actions do not prevent the continued criminalization of people for marijuana.
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I’m making sure no one goes to jail for mere use or possession of marijuana, and their records should be expunged.
It’s time we right those historic wrongs.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 17, 2024
He wrote his words in light of the run-up to the upcoming US elections, in which he will face Donald Trump, and in light of the fact that there is a question regarding his health fitness to serve as president once more.
In 2020, New Jersey, Arizona, South Dakota and Montana voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. In Oregon, they voted in favor of the possession of heroin and cocaine in small quantities.
A third of all US residents now live in states that allow adult recreational use of marijuana, with voters in four other states, including New Jersey and Arizona, on Tuesday approving proposals to make the drug legal. In Oregon, a historic decision was made to legalize small amounts of all types of the drug. to legality.
New Jersey became the largest state on the east coast to approve the use of cannabis, after 67% of voters supported the amendment to the constitution compared to 33% who opposed it. The proposal, which was also supported by Governor Phil Murphy, came up for a vote after the state Senate failed to approve the new legislation.
According to the new amendment, it is possible to grow, process and sell marijuana, while the use of the drug is only allowed to those 21 and older. However, the legislators in New Jersey will still have to pass a law that will regulate the regulations of the new industry, which is expected to bring billions of dollars into the state coffers. “Voters voiced their support for building a fair and just market in place of outdated and unfair drug laws,” said Axel Owen, who led the public campaign to approve the proposal.
Voters in Arizona, South Dakota and Montana also overwhelmingly approved proposals to allow the recreational use of marijuana. In South Dakota and Mississippi, proposals to allow the legal use of marijuana for medical purposes also passed with a large majority. As a result, legalization activists demanded that the federal institutions promote nationwide reform next year. In the state of Oregon, where the sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes has been legal since 2014, they went a step further when voters approved by a majority of 59% to 41% a far-reaching proposal stating that the possession of small amounts of drugs would not constitute a criminal offense.
According to this proposal, those who are caught with small amounts of drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, LSD and oxycodone, will receive a fine of only $100, while the profits from the sale of legal marijuana will be transferred to the treatment of addicts. In the southern state of Mississippi, 68% voted in favor of a new version of the state flag, when instead of the battle symbol of the Confederacy from the Civil War, which flew on the flag for 126 years, an illustration of the magnolia blossom – Mississippi’s official flower – was adopted.
