Biden pardons thousands for cannabis possession

WASHINGTON, Oct 07 (AFP): US President Joe Biden on Thursday pardoned thousands of Americans convicted of marijuana possession in a major new step towards destigmatizing the drug-and fulfilling a promise to his supporters a month before midterm elections.
"I am announcing a pardon of all prior federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana," Biden said.
He did not call for fully decriminalizing cannabis, saying that "limitations on trafficking, marketing and under-age sales should stay in place."
Instead, the president homed in on individual possession of a substance that the government health authorities estimate was used by at least 18 per cent of the population in 2019 -- and which is already permitted by multiple state governments for recreational or medical purposes.
In addition to the pardons, Biden instructed the departments of justice and health to determine whether cannabis should be reclassified as a less dangerous substance.