President Joe Biden has pardoned “all current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who committed the offense of simple possession of marijuana in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.”
“My intent,” he said in the proclamation Oct. 6, “is to pardon only the offense of simple possession of marijuana in violation of federal law… and not any other offenses related to marijuana or other controlled substances.”
As a result, the proclamation states that the attorney general will issue certificates of pardon to anyone who is eligible for pardon.
“The Attorney General, acting through the Pardon Attorney, is directed to develop and announce application procedures for certificates of pardon and to begin accepting applications in accordance with such procedures as soon as reasonably practicable,” the proclamation said.
Biden, in a statement, said: “no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana. Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit.”
New Mexico June 29, 2021, made small amounts of recreational marijuana legal. Since then, it has proven to be a booming industry, with the sales topping millions of dollars each month.
In August, Rio Rancho recreational sales weighed in at $742,725. Medical sales were at $873,861.
Total sales hit $1.6 million.
Albuquerque continues to set the pace in New Mexico, however.
To read the whole proclamation, click here.
