In a recent development, Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) expressed his gratitude to President Biden for pardoning certain marijuana offenses, which he referred to as "bullshit weed charges."
The Senator's appreciation was conveyed via a post on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.
Fetterman, who has been a long-standing advocate for the legalization of marijuana, recalled his efforts in this regard during his tenure as Lieutenant Governor. He stated, "A few Christmases ago, as Lieutenant Governor, I pushed for legal weed and delivering pardons for bullshit weed charges." He also mentioned that as a Senate candidate, he had personally requested President Biden to de-schedule cannabis and pardon those charges.
President Biden, on Friday, announced his decision to commute the sentences of 11 individuals who were serving jail terms for nonviolent drug offenses. He also declared his intention to sign a proclamation pardoning certain marijuana offenses, including use and possession on specific federal lands.
In a statement, the President emphasized, "Just as no one should be in a federal prison solely due to the use or possession of marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either." He further urged Governors to follow suit with regard to state offenses and commended those who had already taken action.
In October 2022, President Biden had announced pardons for thousands of individuals convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law. He also instructed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reassess the scheduling of marijuana.
The HHS forwarded its recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in August, reportedly suggesting that marijuana be reclassified from a Schedule I controlled substance to Schedule III. The DEA's final decision on rescheduling the drug is still pending.
Senator Fetterman lauded the HHS's recommendation, describing it as "a massive win for the Biden administration and a strong step in the right direction on marijuana policy."
During his time as Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor, Fetterman was a vocal proponent for the legalization of marijuana. He even went as far as to display a pro-legalization flag from his office balcony, among other symbols of his advocacy.
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