Zinger Key Points
- President Biden's pardon of Hunter Biden for gun and tax felonies has evoked both support and criticism, mostly the latter.
- Advocates urge Biden to extend clemency to non-violent cannabis offenders, like Edwin Rubis who's been in prison for 27 years.
In the aftermath of President Joe Biden‘s controversial move to grant his son Hunter Biden a full and unconditional pardon, both Democrats and Republicans criticized the decision and now cannabis advocates are getting louder.
Radio host Charlamagne the God pointed out that Biden could and should also pardon individuals imprisoned for non-violent cannabis offenses.
"Right now, if Joe Biden wanted to – don't need no votes, no nothing – he could pardon every single person who is federally jailed for a non-violent weed offense," Charlamagne the God said, according to Beard Bros Pharm press release.
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In his statement, Biden did not claim that his son was falsely accused. He said individuals are “almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form.”
Read Also: Meet The Man Serving A 40-Year Sentence For Non-Violent Cannabis Charges, Awaiting Pardon From Biden
How About Pardoning This Man, President Biden?
Edwin Rubis, who has already served 27 years of a 40-year sentence for non-violent cannabis trafficking offenses, does not deny violating the law as it was written in the late 1990s.
"The difference is that Hunter Biden will never see a prison cell," Beard Bros Pharm press release said. "The POTUS referred to his son’s conviction as a ‘miscarriage of justice’. If that is the standard then it’s time to grant clemency to Edwin Rubis and all Americans federally incarcerated for non-violent cannabis crimes."
In an earlier statement, Rubis said he no longer believes he belongs in prison, asserting he is not a threat to society.
"The Bureau of Prisons has categorized me as a low non-violent offender for recidivism purposes. I am a non-violent cannabis offender. I believe in redemption,” Rubis said in a Beard Bros Pharm press release. “I am a compassionate and relatable individual who does not judge others by their culture, creed, or religion, but by the intentions of their heart. I am honest and loyal; responsible and accountable. I deserve a second chance at life."
Biden Under Pressure To Fulfill His Promise
The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) called on Biden recently to fulfill his promise that “no one should be in jail for marijuana” by granting clemency to individuals still incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis offenses.
LPP, a non-profit cannabis justice reform organization, pointed out that the clock is ticking, the #Countdown4Clemency campaign is coming to an end and is urging Biden to take action. Sixty-seven Democratic members of Congress did the same in a November letter to Biden.
“Now is the time to use your clemency authority to rectify unjust and unnecessary criminal laws passed by Congress and draconian sentences given by judges,” reads the letter. “We urge you to use your executive clemency power to reunite families, address longstanding injustices in our legal system, and set our nation on the path toward ending mass incarceration.”
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