Biden is investigating mercy for federal drug prisoners of conscience, lawyers want all pot prisoners to be released
By Maureen Meehan
President Joe Biden is considering using his executive powers to grant pardons to those sentenced to federal prisons for certain nonviolent drug convictions, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday.
The question came when Psaki was asked about plans for federal prisoners who were released into domestic custody during the pandemic and are now expected to return to prison. Around 4,000 federal offenders could soon go back to prison.
Photo by Richard Ross / Getty Images
“We work hard every day to reform our judicial system to empower families, boost our economies and give people a chance for a better future,” said Psaki.
Biden: Reducing mass incarceration and racial gaps in drug arrests
“As part of this, the President is deeply committed to reducing incarceration and helping people return successfully to society. And he said that too many people are detained – too many are black and brown, ”Psaki told reporters. “And he is therefore exploring several avenues to provide relief to certain nonviolent drug offenders, including through the use of grace.”
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Weldon Angelos, a leading criminal law attorneyRecord producer, who served nearly 13 years in federal prison after being sentenced to 55 years in a high-profile marijuana case involving possession of less than an ounce of weed, said the president should seek pardons on cannabis as promised – pronounce prisoners.
“Candidate Biden has promised to take action and use his pardon to release those in jail for marijuana and to pardon their criminal convictions. Based on our discussions with the government and the White House attorney, we are confident that action will be taken soon, ”Angelos told Benzinga.
As Angelos pointed out, Biden campaigned to erase previous cannabis records and respect states’ right to pass their own laws to legalize cannabis. Although at least five White House employees were fired from their jobs for marijuana use in April, who may disagree that the president has changed a lot since the days he endorsed some of the toughest drug laws in the country.
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But Angelos says he is cautiously optimistic that the government is on the right track, even though it seems unreasonable to send people back to prison after they get home.
“Those serving their sentences at home shouldn’t have to worry about going back to prison after they have rebuilt their lives and been deemed fit for release. Biden should show mercy to all of them immediately, ”Angelos concluded.
This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.
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