President Biden announced October 6th that he would grant mass pardons for anyone convicted of a federal crime for simple possession of marijuana also known as cannabis. The president also announced his administration would expedite a review of whether marijuana should continue to be listed as a Schedule I substance, a classification that also applies to heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. Many people have talked about the legalization in marijuana and this is a big step for many people. 

 

Biden's pardon only impacts a majority of these people in prison. They are not to have any other reason to be in prison other than the fact they had possession of marijuana. The article below states that the White House estimates that about 6,500 people nationwide have federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana on their records since 1992. (this will also apply to people before 1992 but they don’t have data that long ago) Many individuals have asked if this would expunge the sentence in criminal records. The answer is no. A pardon only means forgiveness of a crime, it doesn't mean that someone is considered innocent, or that a conviction will be erased from their records.

 

In an article below it states using marijuana causes impaired thinking and interferes with a person’s ability to learn and perform complicated tasks. THC also disrupts functioning of the cerebellum and basal ganglia, brain areas that regulate balance, posture, coordination, and reaction time. This will affect how people drive and such. Although marijuana is not legalized in all states it is in some (38 states). Even though it can be bad it could also be very helpful. Things it helps with is epilepsy, certain cancers, glaucoma, and many different pains.

 

In my opinion I think that it is fair that people be set out of prison for possession of marijuana. In addition to bidens pardon I feel marijuana should be legalized in certain situations or to a certain point. It is shown that marijuana is safer than alcohol and cigarettes so why are these things legal but not marijuana. 

 

QUESTIONS

What do you think about Biden's Pardon?

What do you think about marijuana and do you think it should be legalized in all states?


SOURCES

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/10/07/pardon-marijuana-possession-decriminalization/ 

https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/how-does-marijuana-produce-its-effects#:~:text=As%20a%20result%2C%20using%20marijuana,%2C%20coordination%2C%20and%20reaction%20time

https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cannabis-marijuana-and-cannabinoids-what-you-need-to-know#:~:text=Are%20cannabis%20or%20cannabinoids%20helpful,loss%20associated%20with%20HIV%2FAIDS.

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Replies

  • Great topic and supoer job Tatum!

  • I can see what biden and his pardon are trying to do. Personally, I think that marijuana and cigarrets should be lilligal. The ONLY case or reason that it should be legal is if it was medically prescribed by a doctor to a patient with a(n) actual need to use it. Legal or not will probabally still get caught with it.

    • I think marijuana could be used both medically and recriationally but safetly in that case. It is safer than the tobacco and additives in cigarrets and I also agree that if it is legal or not marijuana will be used.

  • I think that marijuana can help some people. With a legalization you would be able to provide more safe marijuana. The people who want to get it, get it no matter it is legal or not. Then, the money would boost the economy and not the drug market. 

    • I agree that marijuana would be able to help some people because of medical reason but I'm on the verge of being ok with it being legalized to everyone because it's safer than some things that are legalized.

  • I think Biden's Pardon was good idea because there people that been sitting in prison for awhile because they got charged with marijuana. I think marijuana is good and bad depending on what your using it for especially if it because of medical reason, I think it should also be legalized in all states.

    • I also think it was a pretty good idea, I also agree that marijuana is a good and bad thing.

  • I think that It should be legalized, it helps with so many things and is less addictive then substances such as tobacco and alcohol.  its is marginally one of the safest drugs besides the effects that it could have on your body, If an adult starts using this drug after the age of 21 then the brain is fully developed and the only harm it could have on your brain is memory loss, hever if it does fall into a younger persons hand then it could do a little bit more the just affecting the memory, as for the affects on the rest of the body such as the lungs, there are other ways to consume this drug that does not affect how your lungs work. in the end ists a relatively safe drug for users and the people around them.

    • I do agree that it helps with lots of different things and that it is safer than alcohol and tobacco.

  • I think that Biden did the right thing in pardoning these people. A majority of the people who went to prison for marijuana, got sentenced a long time ago when it was more punishable. I'm not sure on what side I am on about legalization. I could see both sides.

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